Strategic Sourcing Director Location: London
Business Area: Foodbuy Group
Salary: Competitive + benefits


About Foodbuy Group Foodbuy Group is the UK’s largest food procurement organisation, managing over £2bn of spend across food, non-food and retail-adjacent categories. Proudly part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, we work directly with manufacturers and growers to deliver commercial value, supply resilience and responsible sourcing for a diverse portfolio of clients.
At Foodbuy, commercial rigour, clarity of thinking and disciplined execution matter. We are building a sourcing function that is strategic, insight-led and uncompromising on delivery.
The Role The Strategic Sourcing Director sets the direction for Foodbuy’s sourcing strategy and leads a high-performing team delivering meaningful, measurable value across a multi-hundred-million-pound spend.
This is a senior leadership role requiring strong commercial judgement, exceptional negotiation capability and the ability to bring structure and pace to complex environments. You will ensure sourcing is a proactive, results-driven partner to the business—driving cost leadership, supply resilience, innovation and long-term value creation.
You will operate at pace, lead from the front on critical negotiations, and raise the overall sophistication of sourcing across strategy, governance, tools and capability.
Key Responsibilities *Own and lead Foodbuy’s sourcing strategy across all major categories, ensuring clear priorities and strong commercial foundations
*Deliver best-in-class sourcing execution, embedding consistent, transparent and compliant processes
*Lead high-value, complex sourcing programmes delivering improvements across cost, quality, service, innovation and risk
*Personally lead and support major supplier negotiations, ensuring Foodbuy’s scale and standards are fully realised
*Strengthen alignment across Category Development, Clients, Supply Chain, Sustainability and Operations
*Enhance sourcing sophistication through SKU optimisation, risk mitigation, supplier-led innovation and data-driven decision-making
*Champion modern sourcing tools, systems and methodologies, including e-sourcing platforms
*Build, lead and develop a high-performing sourcing team, strengthening capability in negotiation, governance and commercial judgement
What We’re Looking ForEssential *Senior leadership experience in sourcing, procurement or commercial strategy
*Proven delivery of significant, measurable commercial results
*Outstanding negotiation capability with major, complex suppliers (non-negotiable)
*Strong analytical capability with the ability to use insight to shape strategy
*Experience leading multiple high-value sourcing initiatives concurrently
*Strong governance, risk management and process discipline
Desirable *Experience within GPOs, buying groups or multi-client environments
*Exposure to responsible sourcing, ESG and supply-risk management
*Familiarity with modern e-sourcing tools and procurement technologies
Leadership Style & Attributes *Commercially driven and outcomes-focused
*Structured, decisive and calm under pressure
*Credible senior-level stakeholder influencer
*Low ego, high integrity, and comfortable leading in ambiguity
*Strategic thinker with a hands-on delivery mindset
Why Join Foodbuy *Influence procurement strategy at national scale
*Operate in a commercially serious, delivery-focused environment
*Work with senior stakeholders across Compass Group UK & Ireland
*Lead a function with real opportunity to raise standards and shape the future
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