Head of Buying - Beer, Cider & Softs

  • Department / Function :
  • Procurement
  • Location :
  • Nationwide
  • Contract Type :
  • Permanent
  • Working Pattern :
  • Full-time
  • Job Advert Description :
  • About the Role

    This role forms a key part of a high performing Commercial team accountable for assisting Matthew Clark, Bibendum, Walker & Wodehouse and Tennent’s Wholesale. The responsibilities for the team are to leverage our market-leading in product, quality, price and innovation across the GB On and Off Trade.

    Accountable for the selection and sourcing of non-wine product, negotiating cost pricing and managing across categories, ensuring alignment with total company strategy and individual business unit KPI’s. Key to this role is the commercial performance of every sku and supplier to service all On and Off Trade requirements

    Clear ownership of all commercials, sales performance and supplier income, including funding support, is integral to the success of the role with the objective to improve both sales and margin in line with business targets.

    The Head of Buying has direct line management responsibility for two buyers. Accountable for managing their performance, development and nurturing future talent.

    Key Accountabilities

    • Accountable for the purchase of non-wine product, both on and off trade ranges.
    • Maximise national and group purchasing efficiencies while ensuring local business unit and territory requirements are met.
    • Own the supplier strategy alongside the non-wine procurement director.
    • Collaborate with Category team to regularly review the supplier strategy and benchmark performance against competitors and external market
    • Accountable for the negotiation of all supplier terms and contracts, including price, payment terms, supplier income and marketing support
    • Create and manage the optimal range for customers, striking the commercial and operational balance.
    • Work closely with marketing, operations/supply chain, Proof insights, commercial analysis to deliver best go to market plan for each business unit.
    • Manage both national, regional and specialist suppliers where appropriate ensuring market leading ranges for each business unit fascia’s across both on trade and off trade convenience.
    • Deliver continuous improvement of commercial metrics across the supplier base to achieve key deliverables both at total company and local business unit level.
    • Alongside commercial finance and the price/promotion team, understand, track and improve supplier/RTM/Customer value chain maximising market performance and profitability.
    • Work Cross functionally to deliver key commercial activities inclusive but not exclusive to annual cost change, payment term improvement programmes, increased efficiency of supply, optimised promotion plan.

    About you 

    • Experienced buyer
    • Experienced negotiator
    • High levels of commercial acumen
    • Management experience
    • Ability and experience of communicating effectively at different levels of companies
    • Commercial awareness of the Drinks On and Off trade
    • Good organisational skills
    • Experience influencing across a wide range of stakeholders
    • Experience and networked within the drinks industry
    • Numeracy skills
    • Sales skills

    Please see attached for full job description and person specification

    About Us 

    Operating through the Matthew Clark, Bibendum, Tennent’s and Bulmers Ireland brands, the Group has a market leading range, scale and reach including an intimate understanding of the markets it serves.  

    Together we grow, brew, manufacture, market, and deliver some of the world’s favourite drinks. From grass to glass, and everything in between. C&C Group plc is a premium drinks company which owns, manufactures, markets, and distributes a unique portfolio of beer and cider brands in its home markets and across the globe. 

    C&C Group’s portfolio of owned/exclusive brands include: Bulmers, the leading Irish cider brand; Tennent’s, the leading Scottish beer brand; Magners the premium international cider brand; as well as a range of fast-growing, premium and craft ciders and beers, such as Heverlee, Menabrea, Five Lamps and Orchard Pig.  

    We seek to champion and embed sustainability in everything that we do at C&C. While delivering joy to customers, we always shine a light on people and the planet. We have a clear ESG vision delivering to a better world. We respect, support, and develop all our people to be their best, with a focus on results by creating a culture of winning together. 

    We also recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to delivering on our mission. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process. 

    C&C Group (and inclusive companies) do not accept unsolicited CVs from recruiters or employment agencies in response to any of our roles. For help, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team at careers@candcgroup.com. All applications need to come through the candidate portal https://careers.candcgroupplc.com/vacancies/