Join Our Team as Head of Procurement!
Are you ready to take the lead in driving category growth and making a significant impact? Brakes is on the lookout for a Head of Procurement to spearhead our bakery buying efforts and support the Category Merchandising Director as the deputy for the Chip Butty Takeaway Team. This is your chance to unlock cost efficiencies and contribute to our overall category plan, ensuring we deliver exceptional volume, sales, and margin growth while balancing quality, service, and price.
Work Flexibility: We offer a hybrid working contract! The ideal candidate will be within a commutable distance to our Ashford, Kent office, attending in-person twice a week, with flexibility for regular travel to connect with suppliers, customers, and colleagues.
Your Key Responsibilities:
* Lead a dynamic team of merchandising professionals to achieve key priorities and outcomes.
* Support the development of our category strategy and in-year plans 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 enhancing supplier partnerships.
* Drive 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 margins, catering to our diverse customer base from large corporates to small independent foodservice businesses.
* Oversee local spend while collaborating with Sysco GB and international partners to enhance global results.
About You:
To thrive in this role, you’ll need:
* Proven leadership experience in managing cross-functional teams and delivering results.
* Extensive senior-level buying experience in a fast-paced food product category, ideally within retail, foodservice, or FMCG environments.
* A customer-first mindset with an innovative approach to problem-solving.
* 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 to foster strategic relationships with supplier partners.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone ambitious, looking to grow their career within a progressive global organization!
What We Offer:
* A competitive salary
* Company car or an annual car allowance of £8,000
* Family private medical healthcare coverage
* Pension scheme
* Generous holiday allowance of 25 days, with the option to purchase additional holidays + bank holidays
* Exclusive discounts on a variety 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 something great!