Company Description
SSP is a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, with c.43,000 colleagues in over 600 locations across nearly 40 countries. We operate sit-down and quick service restaurants, cafes, lounges and food-led convenience stores, principally in airports and train stations, with a portfolio of around 550 international, national and local brands. These include our own brands (such as UrbanCrave, which brought the first “street eats” concept to airports in the US and Nippon Ramen, a noodle and dumpling concept in the APAC region) as well as franchise brands (such as M&S, Starbucks and Burger King).
Due to our company's growth and expansion, we are looking for a National Purchasing Manager do join our dynamic team. This role can be based in either Sydney or Melbourne.
Responsibilities
This role will be reporting directly to the Head of Commercial, and responsible for managing the buying process both at a country level. Maximize commercial opportunities across the region with local teams to drive the implementation of initiatives, including coordinating and managing all major purchasing tenders, contracts and cost saving measures. With a strong and solid background in purchasing, the incumbent will take a proactive approach in reviewing current systems and procedures, making recommendations and implementing changes.
Strategy and Financial Performance
- Strategic planning for the region in conjunction with the Head of Commercial
- Drive improvement in profitability, mitigate inflation and drive purchasing income and marketing income for the country
- Source, qualify and negotiate with existing and potential new vendors and suppliers in order to secure more commercial agreements for products and services
- Define purchasing recommendations or strategies that support business goals, in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders for the site and region
- Help develop and implement purchasing strategies and policies by undertaking market research on considerable number of potential suppliers and review criteria such as terms, reliability, and availability of the required goods, delivery times and support structures.
Analysis and Report
- Monitor and analyse trends in company spending and inventory control in order to make recommendations for the future, and to identify areas for possible savings
- Monitor and analyse macro trends in supplier and contract base and implement plans to react
- Analyse trends and market conditions for the present and future pricing, availability, lead-time, and capacity or goods and services
- Work closely with Operation, Commercial and Finance Teams on minimizing food wastage
Budget
- Manage forecasting and budgeting process ensuring adherence to deadlines from management
- Ensure budgets are adhered to with all adverse variance closely monitored and within the budget
Internal Audit and control
- Develop, implement and ensure compliance with internal purchasing and logistic policies and procedures aligned across states
Purchasing
- Lead and manage the team to plan, direct and coordinate all the activities that contribute to company profitability and customer satisfaction by purchasing products and services in a timely manner and at the lowest cost
- Ensure vendor activity and negotiations, and analyse trends in vendor price and sales activity to determine the success of purchases to maximize the company’s gain
- Directs the process which includes the planning of procurement, inventory control, logistics and distribution. The manager ensures that every step of the process is functioning effectively to avoid costly delays and lost sales opportunities.
Qualifications
- At least 10 years’ experience relevant experience in a similar capacity in MNC with leadership role while F&B and retail exposure in fast moving, dynamic environment within a commercially driven organization is preferable
- Strong communication skills/active listener
- Strong commercial and financial acumen
- “Hands-on” approach to all tasks to support and drive operational performance
- Good team player and demonstrated integrity and ethical standards