Food Buyer | Hemel Hempstead | £37k

About the Company:

Our client operates with the aerospace sector supplying quality food products to a number of airlines. They are well known for quality and their independence gives them great flexibility. They focus on innovation to ensure the best products are bought to their customers.

About the Role:

Working alongside the Commercial Account teams and customer airlines you will utilise your skills to develop strategies for product categories that exceed financial and other strategic targets. You will be a strong negotiator and influencer and will use your knowledge of the food industry to help develop exciting products. You will be offered the autonomy to be responsible for the commercial performance of the categories that you manage. In return you will be offered training and a chance to join an exciting company in a real stage of growth where there are a number of opportunities for future development.

Key accountabilities & responsibilities:

Managing a portfolio of categories across different airline accounts and channels and developing appropriate strategies for each.
Creating and developing long term plans for development of your categories.
Providing the team with customer focused insight regarding specific products and categories and developing new ideas for products and services.
Driving category relationships with key suppliers that deliver product and services at lowest overall cost.
Developing a supplier base that allows a commercially reactive response to strategic activity and opportunities for innovation.
Becoming a leader in category ranging, pricing and promotions, planning and reviewing the commercial success of promotional activity.
Supporting the Account teams to achieve targets in terms of availability, profitability and revenue.
Manage the production of retail marketing material with our designated service provider.
Developing a detailed category forecast by airline and sales channel.
Ongoing review, reporting and evaluation of performance against strategic and financial goals, developing proactive and reactive plans to adjust where required. Responding in a timely fashion to changes in demand.
Work closely with Account teams, Finance and Supply Chain teams ensuring that the wider team works cohesively and collaboratively. Offer coaching and support where applicable.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years' previous experience as a buyer or Category Manager. You will have a proven track record of market analysis and drawing accurate conclusions to support category decisions. You will hold a thorough understanding of the retail environment. If you have experience in developing marketing campaigns for a category or product this would be considered an asset. The ideal candidate would hold a CIPS or be part qualified - you will hold a strong buying and category process. Travel retail experience is not essential. A second European language skill would be desirable but not required.

Minimum Requirements:

To be considered for this role, as a minimum you must have at least 2 years' experience as a buyer or category manager and the following competencies/behaviours:

The ability and desire to work cooperatively with others as a team.
The ability to build collaborative relationships, inside and outside the organisation, that support the achievement of strategic and financial objectives.
Forward thinking, the ability to anticipate and plan for the consequences of decisions and situations and to be prepared for possible contingencies.
Self-confidence and flexibility.

Any additional relevant information: eg. Travel required
Flexible and mobile to travel globally as necessary to meet with customers and suppliers in support of the business. Up to 20%.

If you meet the minimum requirements for this position please click apply now. Alternatively, to find out more about the role please contact Tom on 01780 480 530 or tom@morepeople.co.uk referencing TEM9338