Senior Category manager - Retail (GSM-Food)

Sodexo is seeking a Senior Global Category Manager - Retail (Food) to lead and maximize value across our global retail portfolio. This strategic role is responsible for driving commercial growth, procurement excellence, supplier partnerships, and category governance to deliver sustainable business results.

Working with key stakeholders and suppliers worldwide, you will create value through revenue growth, margin improvement, cost optimization, innovation, sustainability initiatives, supply continuity, and risk mitigation. The successful candidate will combine strong commercial acumen with strategic sourcing expertise to build high-performing supplier relationships and ensure resilient, responsible category management on a global scale.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of Sodexo's retail food category and make a significant impact across our international business.

For more information on Sodexo Careers please visit Sodexo Careers.

Main Responsibilities Category Growth Strategy

• Develop global category strategies that drive sales growth, margin expansion, operational efficiency and local implementation.
• Leverage Sodexo's scale while balancing local market needs, client requirements and regional priorities.

Value Optimization & Cost Leadership

• Deliver measurable savings, cost reduction, inflation avoidance and supplier productivity.
• Use demand management, specification optimization and scale benefits to improve profitability without compromising quality or service.

Strategic Procurement & Category Governance

• Define and execute sourcing strategies aligned with global category priorities and regional business needs.
• Lead category governance, supplier segmentation, contractual frameworks, compliance and commercial decision processes.

Revenue & Profit Growth

• Drive initiatives that increase retail sales, profitability and category performance.
• Partner with Marketing, Brand, Operations and Finance to convert supplier investment, data and innovation into commercial outcomes.

Strategic Supplier Management

• Lead key global supplier relationships across growth, cost competitiveness, innovation, sustainability, quality, service continuity and risk.
• Negotiate agreements and joint business plans that deliver profitability, savings, investment, innovation and supply resilience.

Governance, Risk & Resilience

• Manage risk across supply resilience, supplier financial health, geopolitical exposure, commodity volatility and market disruption.
• Ensure regulatory, contractual, quality, sustainability and ESG compliance, with mitigation plans to protect supply and performance.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as the global connector between Supply Management, Retail Operations, Marketing, Finance and regional teams.
• Build business cases, mobilize stakeholders and scale best practices across regions.

Performance Management

• Growth KPIs: revenue growth, gross margin improvement, supplier-funded initiatives, innovation and category adoption.
• Procurement KPIs: savings, inflation avoidance, supplier performance, compliance, sustainability and risk reduction.

Please see attached job description for further information regarding the role requirements.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate combines the mindset of a strategic procurement professional, retailer, and business developer.

Experience

• 10+ years' experience in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Commercial Management, Retail or FMCG.
• Proven delivery of revenue growth, margin improvement, savings, cost optimization and inflation mitigation.
• Experience leading supplier negotiations, contractual frameworks, procurement transformation and international category management.
• Strong influencing, stakeholder management, sourcing and supplier governance skills in a matrix environment.

Package Description

Competitive salary depending on experience

Hybrid - Stevenage

In addition, we offer 20+ Sodexo benefits such as Sodexo retirement plan, discounts to over 1,900 brands to shop online, Gym discount to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme providing independent support to overcome whenever life has its obstacles including emotional support, legal and financial advice.

For further details regarding our Sodexo benefits please see attached.

We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be natural, and be the best versions of themselves. We recognise that we're on a journey with regards to diversity and inclusion and would therefore welcome applications for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.

We're a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.