Join Our Team as Head of Merchandising!
Are you ready to take the lead in driving category growth and innovation? Brakes is on the lookout for a Head of Merchandising to spearhead our CSE category growth and support our dynamic Chip Butty Takeaway Team. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for unlocking cost efficiencies and developing a robust category plan that balances quality, service, and price to achieve impressive volume, sales, and margin growth.
This position offers a hybrid working contract, allowing you to work flexibly while being within commuting distance to our Ashford, Kent office. You’ll be expected to attend the office twice a week and travel regularly to connect with suppliers, customers, and colleagues.
Your Key Responsibilities:
* Lead a talented team of merchandising professionals to achieve key priorities and outcomes.
* Develop and implement the overall category strategy and in-year plan to drive volume, sales, and margin growth, while maintaining a balanced focus on quality, service, and price.
* Champion the better buying workstream by negotiating competitive cost prices, sourcing products from the best suppliers, and fostering strong supplier partnerships.
* Support range development, collaborating with trusted suppliers to create innovative and sustainable products for both Sysco’s own brands and vendor brands.
* Manage the end-to-end P&L through product mix and pricing strategies to maximize margin, understanding the diverse needs of our customer base.
* Oversee local spending while collaborating with Sysco GB and international partners to drive global results.
About You:
To thrive in this role, you should have:
* Proven leadership experience in managing cross-functional teams and delivering results.
* Extensive senior-level buying experience in fast-paced food product categories, ideally within retail, foodservice, or FMCG environments.
* A customer-first mindset with an innovative approach to identifying new ideas and methods.
* Resilience and the ability to navigate ambiguity while building future solutions.
* A commitment to inclusivity, integrity, and honesty in all your endeavors.
* Strong commercial acumen and experience in managing large buying/P&L areas.
* Exceptional stakeholder management skills, balancing tactical and strategic relationships to maximize category profitability.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone ambitious about career development within merchandising at a progressive global organization!
What We Offer:
* A competitive salary
* Company car or car allowance of £8,000 per annum
* Family private medical healthcare cover
* Pension scheme
* Generous holiday allowance of 25 days, with the option to purchase additional holidays + bank holidays
* Significant discounts on a wide range of delicious food and award-winning products through our staff shop
* Discounts on cinema tickets, shopping, and cashback on purchases through Sodexo
* Recognition awards and incentives
* Real career opportunities within Sysco, the world’s leading foodservice business
Ready to make a difference? Join us and be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and growth!