Interim Procurement Category Manager

6-12 month contract role

Role is hybrid with 3 days per week in Reading office

Our client is a leading brand operating in the catering and hospitality sector who are currently going through an exciting period of expansion and therefore require a Procurement Category Manager on initial contract basis.

This role will be responsible for the management and ownership of all disposables and consumables categories across the organisation such as packaging, chemicals, janitorial, stationary and uniforms.

You will be working with the head of wholesale to define category strategies in-line with overall business objectives to add value, mitigate risk, drive cost savings, and deliver ESG targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertaking category management in line with supplier tiering system – building on strong supplier relationships and forming new supplier relationships where required.
• Drafting, negotiating, and agreeing clear, concise, and complete contractual documentation where required.
• Defining and developing category strategies and effective project pipelines in line with wider organisational strategy.
• Managing cost base effectively through price reviews and benchmarking processes and where needed, running end to end tender processes.
• Supporting Supply Chain Solutions, Supply Chain Technical and Quality Assurance and Commercial Finance teams with escalations and urgent matters.
• Supporting the delivery of ESG targets by ensuring suppliers are in line with standards.

Skills & Experience

• Experience of disposables and consumables sourcing and procurement would be highly desirable
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Experience with modern sourcing and procurement systems
• Strategic mindset and problem-solving skills
• Change management skills and self-awareness to take varying approaches with a dynamic set of stakeholders
• Strong analytical skills are essential and to be able to balance operational delivery and strategic thinking
• Highly organised and efficient in planning workload with sound project management skills
• The ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines is vital.
• An ability to communicate to people at all levels