Category Sourcing Manager

Job description

About the role

We are looking for a Level 8 Category Sourcing Manager for the Home Category. This key role will inform and deliver strategic sourcing plans and supplier strategy for their category with Home. Working across categories, driving cost improvement and consolidation. Ensuring the right product from the right region and the right route, balancing cost, speed to market and risk.

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Salary - £32,600.00 - £50,500.00

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Contract type: This position is a Secondment/Fixed Term until the end of May 2026.​

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Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home-based, upon your personal needs, whilst balancing the needs of the business. The team work 3 days a week in the office to connect and, on a more ad-hoc basis, to attend key meetings. 

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Location -  This role is based at our Pimlico Head Office. However, please note that this role may include business travel.  

Key responsibilities 

As a Category Sourcing Manager, you will have a deep understanding of your particular category/groups of categories and be responsible for implementing the sourcing strategy within this area whilst aligning to the directorate strategy as set out by the Sourcing team.

You will be able to analyse and interpret the relevant data and insight provided for your category.  Working closely with the L6 Category Sourcing Manager you will use your insight to contribute to and influence the strategic sourcing plan for your category, as well as with buying offices, making recommendations on the supply base for your area of responsibility in order to drive profitability and deliver a responsive, transparent and ethical supply chain.  You will develop the growth, decline and exit strategies alongside the in-region sourcing offices, identifying when categories need support at a local level.  You will support the E-Tenders, cross costing and benchmarking activities required to drive out cost and improve product quality. 

You will work closely with 

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Category Sourcing Manager 

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Buyers and Merchandisers

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Sourcing Office Merchandisers

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E&S team 

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Quality & Technical team

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Supplier Management

Essential skills/experience you’ll need 

Knowledge of global sourcing for the category 

Knowledge of Country of Origin sourcing, the right region, the right product, right route approach. 

Understand the manufacturing capabilities of their industry and provide knowledge and insight on Free Trade Agreements, duties and relevant industry insight 

Open costing, Cost breakdown analysis

Desirable skills/experience you may have

Experience of working with stakeholders located in different regions of the world

Retail Experience

 

The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:   

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.   

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.   

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.  

 

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