Brakes are now recruiting for a Head of Merchandising who will drive overall desserts & bakery category growth through unlocking cost of goods “better than market” benefit, whilst supporting the development of the overall category plan to deliver volume, sales and margin growth, balancing the performance of quality, service and price. We are offering a hybrid working contract for this rol e. T he successful candidate will be within a commutable distance to the Ashford, Kent office to attend site twice per week and be flexible with regular travel to meet with suppliers, customers and colleagues. Key Responsibilities Drive overall desserts & bakery category growth through unlocking cost of goods “better than market” benefit. Support the development of the overall category plan to deliver volume, sales and margin growth, whilst having a balanced perspective on quality, service & price. Accountability for Brakes (local) spend, but also responsible to link with Sysco GB and International partners (plus Constellation buying alliance) to develop Sysco’s Global Sysco Global to drive maximum Sysco International results. Lead and promote the “better buying” workstream of the desserts & bakery plan, negotiating the lowest cost prices, sourcing relevant products from the most appropriate suppliers, developing supplier partnerships, improving availability, contingency planning and supporting the range development including award winning innovation, collaborating with trusted supplier partners to develop sustainable and profitable relationships, with a clear understanding for how to develop added value and innovative products in an own brand driven category. Link the “better buying” workstream to both the “better selling” activation workstream and the ranging fundamentals of The Sysco 6 Stage Category Management process, showing understanding of the needs of our diverse customer base from large corporate to small independent foodservice businesses. Lead a small team of colleagues to cover the buying and administration of the category, while being the number 2 in the team to the Category Merchandising Director. You: You’ll live and breathe Customer First, with an innovative and agile approach to identify new ideas and methods. You’ll enjoy working collaboratively with a dedicated focus on driving and delivering results. You will be resilient and work well with ambiguity and building future solutions. Naturally, you will embrace an inclusive working environment and be committed to acting with integrity and honesty in everything you do. Required skills and competencies: You’ll have extensive senior level buying experience in a fast-moving food product category, ideally in retail, foodservice of FMCG environment, with international scope and different tendering models. We are looking for someone who has a c lear understanding of and previous experience of working with Category Management and extensive negotiation & professional buying / category training. Strong c ommercial a cumen and a proven commercial leader with experience running large buying / P&L areas is essential. You’ll illustrate solid experience in developing strategies which deliver sustained profitable growth, through buying and category growth perspectives. This role requires someone with strong external stakeholder management skills with supplier partners, demonstrating the balance of tactical & strategic relationships to maximise category profitability and growth. This is a great role for someone who is ambitious for further career development within Merchandising and a n exciting, progressive G lobal organisation. At Brakes everyone is welcome. We don’t want you to ‘fit our culture’ we want you to help define it and we actively celebrate the unique talents of each and every colleague. We don’t just look at your CV, we’re more focused on who you are and your potential. As part of our values, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone has a voice, is appreciated and has the same opportunities. We work hard to ensure that everyone feels part of our business, as we care for one another and connect the world through food and trusted partnerships. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone belongs and thrives at Brakes and we recognise that Brakes can only thrive when everyone feels they belong. We'll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, speak to our resourcing team who will be happy to support you.