Category Manager F&B - Lifestyle Venue

COREcruitment; Jeddah; On-site; SAR 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Category Manager to lead F&B operations for a new lifestyle venue in Jeddah. This exciting role involves developing supplier relationships, negotiating contracts, and ensuring the successful launch of the venue. With a focus on quality and market trends, you will play a crucial part in shaping the F&B offerings. If you have a strong background in luxury hospitality and a passion for procurement, this is a fantastic opportunity to make a significant impact in a vibrant and growing environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in purchasing within Food Service or Retail.
• Strong negotiation skills and supplier management expertise.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with food & beverage suppliers and negotiate terms.
• Monitor market trends and evaluate suppliers for quality and price.

Skills

Purchasing Experience

Negotiation Skills

Supplier Management

Market Trend Analysis

Arabic Language Skills

Job description

I'm currently supporting an amazing hospitality group in Saudi Arabia with their search for a Category Manager to oversee all F&B operations.

The group is internationally renowned, with multiple projects and venues across the EMEA region. They are in the final stages of launching a new lifestyle venue in Jeddah, scheduled to open in early 2025.

This role reports directly to the Head of Purchasing. The main responsibilities include managing relationships with all food & beverage suppliers, such as fresh grocery, dry goods, meat, artisan retail/deli, and beverage selections. The role involves negotiations, product and supplier reviews, and proactive sourcing to support the business launch and ongoing success.

Saudi nationals are preferred, but candidates from a strong, high-end luxury hospitality background are also encouraged to apply.

What you'll be doing :

1. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with suppliers across all F&B categories.
2. Negotiate terms with key suppliers, including pricing, MOQs, and processes, based on market knowledge.
3. Monitor market trends to keep the business ahead of market movements.
4. Evaluate and select suppliers focusing on quality, service, and price.
5. Document and track all supplier trading terms.
6. Use market and commodity intelligence to improve terms.
7. Ensure smooth transition of new or improved agreements.
8. Rationalize and consolidate terms, suppliers, and products.
9. Communicate effectively across departments such as Marketing, F&B, and Operations.
10. Support and manage product and promotional launches on schedule.
11. Influence decision-making on range reviews and menus for optimal commercial benefit.
12. Identify new commercial opportunities and recommend them to internal teams.
13. Present proposals to senior management for approval and implementation.
14. Manage the supplier database and contracts.
15. Conduct annual audits of processes and income.

What you'll need :

• Extensive purchasing experience within Food Service, Retail, or Wholesale, with a proven track record in procurement strategies.
• Proficiency in both food and non-food purchasing, with an understanding of diverse product categories.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Arabic language skills are an advantage.