Senior Procurement Manager - London

SSP; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading foodservice company in the UK is seeking a Senior Procurement Manager to oversee and optimize procurement efforts across various divisions. This role involves managing supplier relationships, driving strategic sourcing, and executing effective contract negotiations. Candidates should have over 5 years of procurement experience, excellent negotiation skills, and a strong analytical mindset. The position offers a hybrid working model, fostering a flexible work-life balance while playing a crucial role in improving financial performance.

Benefits

Employee Discounts across our brands

Friends and Family Discount App

Award-winning training and development programmes

Health & Wellbeing support

Hybrid working model with flexibility

Inclusive and diverse workplace

Qualifications

• 5+ years' Procurement experience, preferably in catering, foodservice, or hospitality.
• Proven track record of cost-saving initiatives.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical mindset.
• Ability to manage and lead cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic sourcing plans.
• Lead RFP/RFI/tender processes for supplier selection.
• Execute contract negotiations for the best-value terms.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with internal functions to align procurement activities.

Skills

Procurement experience

Negotiation skills

Commercial acumen

Analytical mindset

Stakeholder management

Contract management knowledge

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Procurement Manager to manage our ingredients spend across our bars, coffee & bakery and casual dining divisions in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. They will be responsible for leading the procurement activity in this key spend area, driving the strategic sourcing agenda and leading tendering and contract negotiations for items critical for our business operations They will own and develop the supplier relationships, managing suppliers from end to end to support SSP brands and, where relevant, our franchise brands.

Key Focus

Key focus will be on driving profit performance by negotiating improved and sustainable commercial terms and managing cost inflation, with supply partners which meet operational requirements utilising the best commercial and most efficient route to market.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic sourcing plans across all assigned categories.
• Deliver budgeted procurement activity and targeted initiatives in the financial year.
• Manage and develop the Ingredients Buyer, supporting them in delivering their own procurement activity and objectives.
• Lead RFP/RFI/tender processes to ensure competitive supplier selection.
• Execute contract negotiations to secure best-value terms, risk mitigation, and service excellence.
• Create, document and track all supplier trading terms with Finance.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive continuous improvement and innovation.
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) focus on goods, reducing costs while maintaining quality and service levels.
• Collaborate with NPD in delivering menu development and first to market innovation.
• Conduct comprehensive spend analysis and identify cost-saving and efficiency opportunities.
• Track market trends, benchmark data, and anticipate supply market changes.
• Rationalisation and consolidation of terms / suppliers / products.
• Present to senior management for approval and implementation.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, legal requirements, and regulatory obligations.
• Align procurement activity with company CSR policies and ESG strategy, lead on specific sustainable sourcing initiatives.
• Collaborate effectively with internal functions and engage key stakeholders to align procurement to business needs.
• Cost Based Reductions (CBR) vs targets on specific categories / suppliers
• Managing inflation basket and identifying new opportunities
• Sourcing products and services to improve quality / availability
• Delivering budget
• Maintaining and improving current supplier terms
• Contract data management and timings
• Supporting new concepts / projects
• Delivering Joint Business Plans (JBP's) with suppliers
  5+ years' Procurement experience (preferably in catering, foodservice or hospitality)
• Proven track record of cost saving initiatives.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical mindset.
• Contract management knowledge.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing abilities.
• Excellent oral and written skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels including senior management.
• Ability to work in a demanding environment and deliver to specific deadlines.
• Ability to manage and lead cross-functional projects.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' Procurement experience (preferably in catering, foodservice or hospitality)
• Proven track record of cost saving initiatives.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical mindset.
• Contract management knowledge.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing abilities.
• Excellent oral and written skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels including senior management.
• Ability to work in a demanding environment and deliver to specific deadlines.
• Ability to manage and lead cross-functional projects.

Benefits

• Employee Discounts across our brands (over 400 locations)
• Friends and Family Discount App
• Award-winning training, apprenticeships and development programmes
• Health & Wellbeing support
• Hybrid working model with flexibility for work-life balance
• Inclusive and diverse workplace with employee networks and communities

Ready to Start?

Ready to start the best part of your journey? Join us at SSP and play a key role in shaping the financial performance of our Rail Gourmet business - where your insight, collaboration, and ownership will help drive our success across the UK and beyond. At SSP, we value diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects a range of backgrounds, skills and perspectives.