Compass Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange (Top 20) and is the global market leader in providing food and a range of support services to customers in the workplace, schools and colleges, hospitals, at leisure and in remote environments. We operate in over 50 countries, employ over 600,000 people, and are a recognised top 10 employer worldwide. In Australia, Compass Group Australia (CGA) generates $2.0Bn revenue per annum, servicing over 350 clients across over 700 sites, with 16,000 employees. 

Lead Innovation in Procurement – Join Compass Group as a Category Manager – Manufacturers

Are you passionate about strategic sourcing and building impactful supplier partnerships? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where innovation and collaboration drive success? If so, we invite you to join Compass Group’s Foodbuy team as a Category Manager – Manufacturers, where you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our procurement strategy.

At Compass Group, we don’t just feed millions, we fuel innovation, elevate hospitality, and unlock possibilities across industries. Be part of a global leader that’s redefining the way food and services are delivered.

About the Role

As Category Manager – Manufacturers, you’ll lead the strategic sourcing and category management of our preferred manufacturer portfolio. Your mission: to deliver value, drive innovation, and ensure our product offerings align with sector and client needs.

You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams, manage key supplier relationships, and lead a high-performing team to deliver commercial excellence and sustainable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and manage relationships with core suppliers, while leading a small, agile team
• Develop and implement category strategies that meet commercial, operational, and sustainability goals
• Lead supplier selection, tendering, contract negotiation, and ongoing relationship management
• Partner with culinary, operations, and supply chain teams to ensure product quality and service excellence
• Analyse category performance and drive initiatives for efficiency, compliance, and continuous improvement
• Stay ahead of market trends, risks, and innovations to inform strategy and mitigate risks

About You

• Proven experience in procurement, category management, or supply chain—ideally within FMCG, food services, or hospitality
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills, with a track record of delivering cost savings and added value
• Data-driven decision-maker with excellent analytical capabilities
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement and influencing across all levels
• Tertiary qualifications in Business, Procurement, Supply Chain, or a related field (highly desirable)

Please note: The preferred location for this role is Perth, WA. If not based in Perth, the preference for other location is Sydney, NSW.

THE BENEFITS

Working with a large global company means you can be assured that we have an attractive benefits program! This includes comprehensive learning & development offerings, a variety of recognition programs and company discounts, an excellent salary benchmarking matrix and at this management level also includes an incentive bonus scheme! You can read all about these here: Why work at Compass

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible for all. If you require adjustments or alternative methods of communication in the recruitment process, please reach out to us on either 1300TALENT or talisson@compass-group.com.au