The posting
We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Procurement Manager to lead the Procurement Department for a growing company in the Food & Beverage (F&B) industry. The incumbent will oversee the procurement team and assume overall responsibility for procurement strategy, supplier management, cost optimisation, governance and supply continuity across the business.
The successful candidate will work closely with senior management and the Operations, Finance, Marketing and other departments to support business growth, menu development and operational excellence.
Responsibilities:
1. Department Leadership and Procurement Strategy
- Lead the Procurement Department and assume overall accountability for its performance, priorities and deliverables.
- Develop and implement procurement strategies, policies and processes aligned with the company’s business objectives.
- Establish sourcing plans for food ingredients, beverages, operating supplies, equipment and services.
- Lead, coach and develop the procurement team, setting clear responsibilities, performance expectations and development goals.
- Manage the department’s resources and workload to ensure effective support for business and operational requirements.
- Advise senior management on procurement strategy, market trends, commodity risks and cost-management opportunities.
- Drive continuous improvement and the effective use of data, systems and technology across procurement activities.
2. Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Management
- Lead the identification, evaluation and appointment of suppliers through structured sourcing, tendering and negotiation processes.
- Negotiate pricing, rebates, credit terms, service levels and contractual conditions to deliver sustainable commercial value.
- Build strategic relationships with key suppliers and maintain suitable alternative sources for critical products.
- Conduct regular supplier performance reviews covering quality, pricing, delivery reliability, responsiveness and compliance.
- Oversee supplier contracts and ensure their timely renewal, renegotiation or termination where necessary.
- Address significant supplier performance issues and lead corrective-action plans where required.
3. Cost and Commercial Management
- Own procurement budgets, savings targets and cost-optimisation initiatives.
- Monitor market conditions, commodity prices, foreign-exchange exposure and supply-chain developments that may affect product costs or availability.
- Analyse purchasing patterns and total cost of ownership to identify opportunities for consolidation, standardisation and value engineering.
- Partner with Operations teams to evaluate product substitutions and specifications without compromising quality or the customer experience.
- Provide accurate procurement reports, forecasts and recommendations to senior management.
- Ensure that procurement decisions balance cost, quality, service, operational needs and supply risks.
4. Supply Assurance and Governance
- Ensure continuity of supply across all business locations by managing lead times, supplier capacity and contingency plans.
- Work closely with operations teams to optimise stock levels and minimise shortages, excess stock and wastage.
- Establish and maintain appropriate procurement controls, approval processes and documentation standards.
- Ensure that suppliers and products comply with applicable food-safety, quality, regulatory and sustainability requirements.
- Oversee procurement support for new outlet openings or closures, menu launches, promotions and other business projects.
- Identify procurement and supply-chain risks and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
- Promote ethical, transparent and commercially responsible procurement practices.
Requirements
- At least 6 years of relevant procurement or supply-chain experience, including a minimum of 3 years in a procurement leadership role.
- Proven experience leading a procurement department or team and managing the full procurement function.
- Strong experience in the F&B, hospitality, food-service, retail food or related industry.
- Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, supplier management and cost optimisation.
- Good knowledge of food and beverage categories, market pricing, supply risks, inventory considerations and food-safety requirements.
- Strong commercial judgement, analytical ability and financial acumen.
- Confident communicator and negotiator, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and external partners.
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel and procurement, ERP or inventory-management systems.
- Able to work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-outlet environment.
- Proactive, meticulous and collaborative, with a practical, hands-on approach.
- Able to manage competing priorities and work effectively across functions and with senior stakeholders.
