Procurement Category Manager

Here at Woods Foodservice, we are known as market leaders in the premium quality sector of the restaurant, catering industry. We are at an exciting point of growth in the company, at present, most of our customers are London-based, but we have already begun the expansion process into other major UK cities such as Manchester, Brighton and Bristol. The future is very promising To support our business growth, innovation and supplier relationship management, our Commercial Procurement Category Managers cover the following categories: Ambient/Dry, Chilled, Chocolate, Eggs, Frozen, Patisserie, Molecular Ingredients and Fresh Produce. We’ve also recently introduced some meat products. The Commercial Procurement Category Managers report into the Commercial function, to the Commercial Manager/ Director. Responsible for developing and executing procurement and sourcing strategies for your specific category /categories including pricing lists to optimise cost savings and maximise profit for the business whilst ensuring quality, innovation and managing supply risk and supplier performance. This involves building strong supplier relationships, analysing data including market trends and pricing information and collaborating with internal teams to achieve company KPIs and objectives. Demand Planning - forecast levels of demand for products and sales, with cashflow in mind in quieter months. Ensure security in the range and have awareness of current and potential factors contributing to the disruption of supply. Create a 12 calendar month plan, taking into account seasonality, sales trends, external factors, bank holidays, new customers, new products, promotions. Supplier Approval - ensure all suppliers are approved (including food safety, health & safety and environmental risks) via the company Compliance approval process. Supplier & Procurement Policy – ensure the Supplier & Procurement policy, SOPs are followed. Product Range – source new products and ensure the product range is on brand/ aligned to Woods core values and conduct research to source the best products and suppliers that align with this whilst keeping in mind: quality, value, sustainability credentials, terms, security of supplier/disruption of supply. Determine which products are ‘story-line’ high quality products, standards products, KVPs. Ensure all Key Value Products (KVPs) are bought at the lowest possible price. Sourcing – of products directly from manufacturers / growers. Innovation – keep up to date with food/customer/consumer trends, innovations and new technology that can impact the business. Tenders - run tenders, evaluate bids, and make range recommendations, based on commercial and technical factors. Pricing Lists – create pricing lists to maximise profit for your Category (approved by Commercial Director), forecast price trends and their impact on the business, ensuring the company remains profitable. Quarterly Pricing Lists for most Categories and Monthly Pricing list for Fresh Produce. Ensure Group Buying promotions are leveraged/optimised. Supplier Contracts & Service Level Agreements – negotiate terms and agree contracts including value, delivery schedules, quality, security of supply/range. Set up new suppliers and set up new products in online systems - SWORDs/ERUDUS/ASSIST etc. including ensuring the product specifications are up to date specifications as required by Compliance. Underperforming Lines - review underperforming lines and either try to upsell or remove from the range accordingly. Liaise with Finance to resolve supplier invoice queries and payments . Buying Group - ensure maximum benefit from the buying group, taking advantage of terms and promotions. Engage with the buying group and provide feedback to them on what suppliers and terms could be more beneficial to us as a business. Supplier Relationship Management - build and maintain good relationships with new and existing suppliers, making sure they are aware of business objectives and that risks are being managed. Attend supplier and networking meetings and trade conferences. Reports and Communication – regularly report and communication with the rest of the Commercial Team and others internal teams (e.g. Operations, Finance, Customer Service) so that customer service excellence and company wide objectives are achieved. Reports to include : financial performance of products (profitability), peak-seasons, Buying Group promotions, supplier management, product innovations, customer buying behaviour and trends. Collaboration and Teamwork – work closely with Operations (including Stock Replenishment), Finance, Customer Service teams to achieve company-wide objectives and KPIs.Help facilitate communication between suppliers, manufacturers and Woods internal teams. Fresh Produce Commercial Procurement Category Manager will also work closely with the Nights - Market Fresh Produce Buyer. Role Requirements Post-Secondary relevant qualification - preferred e.g. University degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration. Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) qualification or training towards obtaining a CIPs qualification preferred. Experience in procurement category management, sourcing and purchasing food products within the foodservice or food fmcg industry preferred. Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust with suppliers and colleagues. Strong Commercial acumen including identifying business opportunities, understanding and executing company approved supplier management plans, keeping up to date with and monitoring competitors, the market and industry information and trends. Financial acumen and analytical skills, thinks in terms of profit and loss, costs, savings, pricing. Develop and execute pricing and supplier management plans to achieve revenue and other KPI targets. Ensures Compliance requirements (legal, company, BRC, food safety, health & safety, environment) policies, procedures and standards are followed. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and a pro-active approach to address customer needs Very good organization, prioritisation and planning skills with a keen attention to detail. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM software, with the ability to generate reports, analyse data and manipulate data in Excel to inform decision-making. Must have the Right to Work in the UK and hold a valid UK Driving License Working at Woods Foodservice means you’ll be working alongside a real team-spirited group of people. We value honesty, integrity and big ideas and ensure that work-life balance is enjoyed by all. We are committed to building an inclusive culture that values and respects difference combined with creating a safe and inclusive working environment for all staff. We provide the tools and support necessary to ensure our teams remain passionate about their work and deliver excellence throughout their career with us. We are big on learning & development and consistently strive to identify upcoming talent in-house. If you’re willing to work hard and looking for a long-term career opportunity, this could be the role for you We always aim to live Wood Foodservice company values of Innovation, Adaptability, Positivity and Sustainability. You’ll be a joining a family business where hard work and dedication is highly rewarded. Not only do we pride ourselves on being an official Living Wage Employer that offers a highly competitive salary and access to a number of generous benefits which include company pension, YuLife health & wellbeing benefits, EAP, discounts, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays. Benefits: Company car/Car Allowance 25 days holiday Annual 10% Bonus Company events Company pension Free parking Health & wellbeing programme Life insurance On-site parking Sick pay Work from home (1 day per week) Hours of Work: 08.00am - 17.00pm What are you waiting for, come Join Us