Category Manager

Welcome to KFC

Take one man with a big idea, add 11 herbs and spices, grit, ambition, and buckets of heart – you’ve got KFC.

Since 1939, we’ve been bringing finger lickin’ good chicken to the world, and today we’re proud to be in over 1000 communities across the UK & Ireland. But without our people, none of it would be possible. Just like our recipe, they’re all original.

Join us. Bring it. And together, we can be part of something truly extraordinary.

KFC Europe is one of YUM’s largest Regions and significant profit contributor. It has over 2000 stores across 4 BMU’s : UK;
France; WEBU (Westen Europe) & CEE (Central and Eastern Europe). The region is expected to grow at over 250 stores per annum. This role is focussed on delivering value across the whole region and due to the untapped potential, the opportunity provides scope for a driven category buyer to make a huge impact across a large number of countries and franchise partners.

• Project focussed role involving managing multiple projects across the equipment / CAPEX space
• Focus on improving return on investment and payback periods through analysis, action planning and execution of an equipment procurement strategy
• Other key areas of focus include :
  Management of Key Equipment Suppliers;
  Management of Global OEM Supplier relationships;
  Management of day-to-day escalations from across Pan Europe
• Lead the analysis of supplier and contract performance to identify opportunities to reduce spend and improve execution
• Partner with Global Equipment Procurement on Tier 1 equipment (the big stuff like fryers)
• Work cross functionally to implement and track projects to deliver benefit
• Support the definition of the category and sourcing strategy that delivers on short- and long-term goals
• Owns the ’Build Smarter’ (Cost optimization) for equipment spend
• Supports the Category Manager in the definition and implementation long term category strategy that delivers against the needs of KFC by :
• Aligning closely with relevant stakeholders to consider KFC U.K., France, Western Europe and Central & Eastern Europe priorities
• Supporting the creation of the Category Strategy integrating internal factors (e.g. technical requirements) and external factors (e.g. supply market dynamics)
• Researching and selecting the right levers for each sub-category to extract maximum value from the procurement spend, ensuring the inclusion of non-commercial levers (e.g. specification improvement, partnerships)
• Conducting the category risk management, identifying potential risks and developing mitigation plans
• Supporting the supplier management strategy by :
• Researching and defining the supply base requirements and supplier qualification criteria
• Monitoring supplier performance including uninterrupted supply, right first-time quality and other financial and relevant operational KPIs

We’re looking for a candidate who brings:

• Strong analytical skills, ability to extract meaningful conclusions from data
• Proven experience of working collaboratively in complex stakeholder environment
• Proven experience of outside the box thinking and comfort in challenging the status quo
• Proven experience in understanding contract KPIs and successfully driving supplier performance
• Procurement or Supply Chain experience
• Ideally - Experience in a food service / FMCG or retail environment
• Ideally - 2+ years Experience in an equipment / CAPEX / construction / engineering role

• Strong skills in Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Quick to learn and apply new knowledge
• Values action over activity
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Effective team worker
• Strong drive for results and ambitious to grow and develop within the organization

At KFC, everyone gets a seat at our table. Since we landed in the UK in 1965, we’ve fed our people’s potential – to be their best selves, make a difference and have fun.

Because it’s not just what you do ’s the way you do it. Unapologetically you, undeniably original.

You’ll work with colleagues who all bring their originality to the table : their energy, spirit and sizzle and make every day high flyin’ and high fryin’.

As a…