Buying & Category Manager

About the Role

Our client, a prominent aviation catering business with operations across Europe, is seeking an experienced Buying & Category Manager to join their team based at Dublin Airport. This is a dynamic role within a fast-paced environment where units operate as individual businesses with their own budgets. You will be responsible for managing a category buying remit, focusing on delivering a perpetual catering program, developing product collections, and achieving retail KPIs and strategic objectives to contribute to the company's overall success. The role also involves supporting new business development and the creation of innovative products and services for the retail sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the planning, direction, and coordination of procurement activities in collaboration with commercial and culinary teams to manage the supply of products and services.
• Manage supplier onboarding and qualification processes.
• Develop and implement category strategies and plans.
• Lead the end-to-end strategic sourcing process to identify cost-effective deals and suppliers.
• Establish procurement contracts for goods, services, and works.
• Monitor and manage supplier performance and ensure functional governance in line with company policies and metrics.
• Ensure timely procurement of goods, materials, and services that meet specified quantity, quality, and pricing requirements.
• Support all company operations across its multi-site network.
• Act as the primary liaison, leveraging scale and promoting best practices across the business.
• Develop and implement a 3-year strategic category plan for the Irish catering business, aligning with corporate targets.
• Localize, implement, and manage the procurement governance framework, including stakeholder communication for policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with internal teams to understand product and service needs.
• Design and execute strategies for procurement, storage, and distribution of goods, while maintaining optimal stock levels.
• Partner with other company catering businesses globally on procurement opportunities.
• Cultivate strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive business benefits.
• Integrate internal and supplier onboarding processes to enhance national, regional, and global efficiencies.
• Identify and research potential new suppliers, both domestically and internationally.
• Monitor market trends, competitive landscapes, and product availability to secure the best prices without compromising quality or delivery.
• Conduct cost analysis and benchmarking across categories, industries, and suppliers.
• Monitor and report on operational risks arising from geopolitical, economic, social, and environmental factors, and implement mitigation strategies.
• Develop contingency plans and evaluate substitute options in collaboration with commercial and culinary teams to manage supply and price fluctuations.
• Research new products and services to align with company objectives.
• Analyze procurement spend to understand value, volumes, sources, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Negotiate contracts on behalf of the company.
• Approve purchase orders in accordance with authority levels and governance manuals.
• Manage contract administration, including drafting from templates, communicating with suppliers, and conducting post-contract performance reviews with stakeholder input.
• Ensure adherence to agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with suppliers and stakeholders.
• Prepare financial data, analyze trends, and assess the availability of goods and materials.
• Create and manage a product strategy focused on sales and profit growth.
• Monitor category performance against KPIs and develop corrective action plans for any shortfalls.
• Conduct regular trading reviews to identify and address potential issues and opportunities.
• Collaborate with commercial, materials, culinary, and warehouse teams to ensure product ranges are current, delivered on time, and within budget.
• Drive new product development initiatives, launches, and go-to-market strategies while maximizing the profitability of existing products.
• Develop and implement compelling category plans.
• Foster strong relationships with the supplier base.
• Manage buying administration, including contract creation and execution.
• Prepare product information for range presentations.
• Ensure accurate product details are captured and communicated for master data setup.
• Assist in delivering all documentation according to the critical path.
• Support new business development by assisting the Sales Team with new product/service development and providing subject matter expertise for tenders and presentations.

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in Category Buying.
• Demonstrated experience working within a category, product, or brand function.
• Strong leadership and management capabilities, with excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to perform effectively under pressure, with strong planning, organizing, and delegation skills.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, Strategic Sourcing Solutions, and Source to Pay processes.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• High-level analytical and numerical skills.
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated, proactive, and persuasive demeanor.
• Experience in budget management and financial reporting to support annual budgets.
• Familiarity with managing KPIs such as Spend under Management, Spend under Active Contracts, Suppliers on Contract, Value of Savings Delivered, % on Rebates Achieved, Supplier Returns and Wastage, and On-Time In-Full (OTIF).
• Must possess the legal right to work in Ireland.

Additional Information

This role is based in Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland, and requires the candidate to have the legal right to work in Ireland. The position is full-time and onsite.