Manager - Category

Compass Group is the global market leader in providing food and beverage to customers in a range of food service environments. We operate in over 50 countries, employ over 510,000 people, and are a recognised top 10 employer worldwide.

Reporting to the Senior Procurement Manager, the Category Manager will be responsible for the leadership and direction of the national Facilities and Professional Services portfolio. This includes developing and executing the portfolio and category management strategies, risk and governance management and source to contract activities. The Category Manager will lead, support and develop a small team of junior procurement professionals to deliver value creation initiatives ensuring they leverage the best commercial outcomes that meet business needs across our client's national portfolio.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Development and execution of category strategies including but not limited to labour hire, travel, staff uniforms, telecommunications, contractors and waste management services.
- Execute and support of end-to-end procurement process in accordance with company procedures, including stakeholder engagement, strategy development, baseline validation, tender management, supplier negotiations, contract finalisation and change management during and after the sourcing process.
- Drive national strategic sourcing events with the key focus on negotiating optimized cost, quality, delivery standards to the business.
- Meet or exceed cost saving targets through the effective identification of opportunities, construction of a savings plan and the successful execution of strategic procurement initiatives.
- Ensure procurement activities include, promote and support both Social and Sustainable Procurement objectives and targets.
- Consolidate the supplier base through negotiating appropriate commercial supplier arrangements, strategic partnership or panel creation.
- Drive ongoing management of KPI, SLA, Risk and Governance strategies across the supplier base.
- Negotiate commercial terms to deliver best value outcomes.
- Ensure accurate and timely capture of sourcing benefit outcomes and/or commercial terms in required databases.
- Contribute to the development of the procurement policies and practices.
- Understanding the broader Compass Group and Foodbuy strategy and requirements and how these impact the objectives and desired outcomes.
- Conduct effective annual performance reviews
- Develop strategic relationships with internal stakeholders across the categories, to understand their business requirements and ensure that category management solutions are appropriate for their current and future business needs.
- Build and maintain productive and collaborative external relationships.
- Effective management and ensure compliance to all Compass Group and Foodbuy policy, procedures and systems.

**The Person**:

- **Relevant completed or partial tertiary qualification Economics/Business/Commerce, CIPS, IFPSM or AAPCM qualification or equivalent is highly regarded**:

- Negotiating - Advanced
- Drive for Results - Advanced
- Building Effective Teams - Intermediate
- Timely Decision Making - Intermediate
- Communication (Written/Presentation)
- Advanced
- Customer Focus - Advanced
- Planning - Advanced
- Supplier Relationship Management - Advanced
- **5 years+ procurement, strategic sourcing in a full end to end lifecycle management role.**:

- A proven record of delivering value and cost reductions through strategic sourcing and category management within any spend category
- Change management experience in a complex multi divisional and / or project-based organisation
- Prior experience in building strong business relationships and working collaboratively with a diverse set of stakeholders
- Procurement experience across multiple industries or businesses
- First class analytical and communication skills

**Why work at Foodbuy Australia?**

Our passion for procurement is led by our Supply Chain talent. We seek to establish true partnerships with our Clients and Supply Partners delivering growth and innovation for all. Our Values represent the cornerstone of how we achieve this together.

You will join us at an exciting time as we continue to invest in our people, our capability and in the core systems and processes that ensure we deliver great service to our Member Clients. As the sole sourcing partner for our parent company, Compass Group Australia, you will be offered an attractive benefits program including a competitive salary and incentive scheme, recognition programs and company discounts.

If you are looking for a career where you set the standard for personal advancement, then Foodbuy Australia is for you.