SES Category Development Director
(Supplies, Equipment & Services)
Location: London/Chertsey/Hybrid
Salary: Competitive
Business Area: Foodbuy
Reporting to: Chief Commercial Officer
About Foodbuy Group Foodbuy Group is the UK’s leading food procurement organisation, managing over £2bn of spend across foodservice and hospitality. Part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, a FTSE 100 business, Foodbuy works with a wide range of clients to deliver expert procurement, commercial insight and sustainable value across food and non-food categories.
Our people, partners and clients sit at the heart of everything we do. Our scale and supplier reach offer a unique platform to innovate, grow and shape markets.
The Role We are seeking an experienced SES Category Development Director to lead a step-change in Foodbuy’s non-food proposition across Supplies, Equipment & Services (SES).
This is a senior leadership role focused on growth, expansion and reinvention. Rather than operating as a traditional category management position, the role exists to transform SES into a growth-oriented, opportunity-led commercial engine — broadening capability, entering new spaces and increasing relevance for clients.
Operating with significant autonomy and executive-level influence, the SES Category Development Director will bring fresh thinking, commercial ambition and renewed energy to one of Foodbuy’s most important growth platforms.
Key Responsibilities *Define and lead Foodbuy’s SES commercial strategy across supplies, equipment and services
*Drive a mindset shift from transactional procurement to growth-led category development
*Identify and unlock new category opportunities, adjacencies and routes to market
*Expand and reposition the SES offer to deliver greater relevance, choice and value for clients
*Build a diverse supplier ecosystem, including strategic partners and SMEs
*Translate client needs into scalable, compelling SES propositions
*Strengthen strategic supplier relationships while welcoming innovation and disruption
*Work collaboratively across sourcing, category, account management and operations
*Represent Foodbuy credibly with senior clients, suppliers and industry stakeholders
*Build, mentor and energise a high-performing SES commercial team
About You You are a senior commercial leader who sees non-food categories as a platform for growth, not just cost control. You are comfortable challenging legacy thinking, reframing value and creating momentum through change.
Essential experience:
*Senior commercial leadership within non-food, indirect procurement, services or multi-category environments
*Strong background in procurement, category or commercial strategy
*Proven success driving growth, expansion or transformation of category portfolios
*Ability to influence credibly with senior clients and suppliers
*Strong commercial judgement and strategic thinking
*Track record of building and developing high-performing teams
Desirable experience:
*Experience within GPOs, buying groups or multi-client environments
*Exposure to hospitality, foodservice, facilities or operational services
*Experience working with a diverse supplier base, including SMEs
Why Join Foodbuy? This is a rare opportunity to redefine and grow a critical commercial platform within a market-leading organisation. You will shape the future of Foodbuy’s non-food proposition, unlock new sources of value for clients and suppliers, and build a future-ready SES team — all within the scale and stability of a FTSE 100 group.
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