Strategic Category Manager - HR & Business Services

Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I; Uxbridge; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I is seeking a Lead for Business Services and HR procurement across multiple markets to develop category strategies and drive strategic sourcing. You will drive supplier performance, support transformation and align sourcing with business goals.

You will manage a buying team, strengthen supplier partnerships, and use data insights to mitigate risk and uncover opportunities in a fast-paced, international environment.

Qualifications

• Proven procurement experience in Professional and/or HR services.
• Strong track record in category strategy development and execution.
• Experience managing senior stakeholder relationships and day-to-day procurement activities.
• Understanding of source-to-pay processes and procurement systems.
• Strategic, analytical, influential and problem-solving mindset.
• Procurement transformation, automation and continuous improvement experience.
• Fluency in English.
• Knowledge of Ariba or Coupa (or similar procurement platforms).
• Experience with supplier risk management and supplier relationship management.
• Experience with leveraging AI in Procurement.
• Fluency in an additional European language.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies for Business Services and HR categories.
• Drive strategic sourcing initiatives and supplier performance management.
• Support procurement transformation, including standardization and digital tools adoption.
• Provide guidance and oversight to buyers aligning sourcing with strategies.
• Enhance stakeholder engagement across markets and functions.
• Direct and oversee the buying team across categories.
• Strengthen supplier partnerships via contract management and risk mitigation.
• Leverage data and market insights to inform decisions.
• Manage a diverse portfolio across market dynamics and stakeholder needs.
• Balance strategic management with hands-on procurement activities, drive digital initiatives.
• Engage internal stakeholders and ensure compliance and risk management.

Skills

Category strategy

Stakeholder management

Analytics

English fluency

AI in Procurement

Tools

Ariba

Coupa

Job description

Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I is seeking a Lead for Business Services and HR procurement across multiple markets to develop category strategies and drive strategic sourcing. You will drive supplier performance, support transformation and align sourcing with business goals.

You will manage a buying team, strengthen supplier partnerships, and use data insights to mitigate risk and uncover opportunities in a fast-paced, international environment.