Requirements
Candidates should have 3–5 years of experience in category management, procurement, or strategic buying, with proven contract negotiation and supplier relationship management experience. Strong commercial and financial skills, stakeholder influence, experience in a matrix or multinational organization, a degree, and progress toward a CIPS, ISM, or equivalent qualification are sought; food and beverage procurement experience is desirable.
Job Description
Category Manager
Location: Hybrid/Remote
Salary: Competitive
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
About the Role
We're looking for an experienced Category Manager to lead the development and delivery of category strategies across the UK & Ireland. You'll be responsible for driving commercial performance, delivering sustainable value, managing supplier relationships, and implementing sourcing strategies that support both regional and global business objectives.
Working closely with stakeholders across Supply Management, Finance, Supplier Relationship Management, and global procurement teams, you'll identify opportunities to drive savings, improve profitability, mitigate risk, and enhance supplier performance.
What You'll Do
- Develop and implement category sourcing strategies across the UK & Ireland.
- Deliver cost savings, commercial value, and improved supplier performance.
- Negotiate regional agreements and secure the best commercial terms.
- Manage supplier relationships and identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement.
- Lead a pipeline of category projects and initiatives, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives and timelines.
- Collaborate with global procurement teams to align local and global category strategies.
- Drive responsible sourcing and sustainability initiatives across your categories.
- Ensure compliance with procurement policies, governance requirements, and due diligence processes.
- Balance the differing business and market requirements across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
- Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to influence decision-making and maximise value.
What We're Looking For
- 3-5 years' experience in Category Management, Procurement, or Strategic Buying.
- Proven experience negotiating contracts and managing supplier relationships.
- Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing, and communication skills.
- Experience working within a matrix or multinational organisation.
- Degree educated and working towards CIPS, ISM, or equivalent qualification.
Desirable
- Food & Beverage procurement and category management experience.
- Knowledge of food supply chains, supplier markets, product specifications, and food safety standards.
- Experience across categories including grocery, dairy, fresh and frozen food, meat and poultry, bakery, soft drinks, and hot beverages.
Education
Skills
About Sodexo
Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the leader in Food and Services, shaping better everyday experiences at every moment in life: work, heal, learn and play. The Group stands out for its independence, its founding family shareholding and its responsible business model. With its services, Sodexo meets all the challenges of everyday life with a dual goal: to improve the quality of life of our employees and those we serve, and contribute to the economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. For Sodexo, growth and social commitment go hand in hand. Our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, Bloomberg France 40, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices. Sodexo Key figures: 24.1 billion euros Fiscal 2025 consolidated revenues 426,000 employees as at August 31, 2025 #2 France-based private employer worldwide 43 countries 80 million consumers served daily 8.3 billion euros in market capitalization (as at October 22, 2025)
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