Procurement Manager

Fox's Burton's Companies; St Albans; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job description

We are FBC UK, Fox's Burton's Companies! ……And we bake the UK's most incredible biscuits (we might be slightly biased, but we will leave that for you to judge). FBC UK was a match made in heaven, with two of the top UK biscuits manufacturers (Burton's Biscuits and Fox's Biscuits) coming together to create one unique, integrated company. We are home to famous iconic brands, including Maryland, Fox's, Jammie Dodger & Rocky, to name just a few. We are proud manufacturing partners to some of the biggest UK retailers and household names. We bake our incredible biscuits at eight bakeries across the UK, located at Isle of Arran, Livingston, Blackpool, Llantarnam, Edinburgh, Kirkham, Batley & Dorset and our HQ in St Albans. Together, we employ circa 4,000 amazing colleagues across all our locations.

Whilst we know that we have delicious products we also know that that the key ingredient to our success is our people, and the passion we have for our brands. You could be the jammy to our dodger, party ring to our Fox’s or the choc-chip to our Maryland?! We knead people with innovative ideas, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the commitment to drive FBC UK to success.

We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that feels empowered to build a fulfilling and successful career. By embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) we create a supportive environment for people to thrive and strive to have more positive impact. We understand that having formal and on-the-job learning opportunities is key to our colleagues’ professional and personal growth. We are committed to providing an environment where everyone can learn from each other and grow through a variety of learning experiences. Our colleagues make our business special. With strong community values, we believe FBC UK is a more prosperous and fun place to work when people feel free to be themselves. We believe in the power of being authentic, entrepreneurial, and supporting each other whilst meeting our business goals.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Procurement Manager to join our Cocoa/Chocolate team. In this role, you will be responsible for sourcing, procurement, and inventory management of cocoa and chocolate materials essential to our business.

You will play a key role in driving innovation, embedding sustainability into procurement, and building strong supplier partnerships to deliver value.

The ideal candidate will have strong negotiation skills, analytical thinking, and effective communication abilities. You should be adept at collaborating cross-functionally and have a passion for continuous improvement, ensuring our procurement strategies align with business goals and industry trends.

Main Responsibilities

• Manage supplier relationships to ensure quality, cost-effective, and reliable cocoa and chocolate sources.
• Find and evaluate alternative suppliers to boost resilience and business continuity.
• Support contract negotiations for optimal terms and long-term partnerships.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including New Product Development (NPD), to drive innovation with new ingredients and supplier capabilities.
• Integrate sustainability into procurement strategies, focusing on ethical sourcing and environmental impact.
• Stay updated on market trends and advancements in sustainable cocoa sourcing.
• Improve procurement processes for efficiency and better collaboration with suppliers and internal teams.
• Use data and analytics for informed purchasing decisions, cost savings, and process improvements.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and maintain accurate records of contracts, pricing, and supplier performance.
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Finance, and Product Development teams to align procurement with business needs.
• Support innovation by providing insights on raw material trends and sourcing opportunities.
• Facilitate communication and alignment on procurement-related decisions across departments.

Who we are looking for

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field
• Proven experience in procurement, preferably within Manufacturing or FMCG
• Experience in purchasing chocolate products or cocoa-based ingredients (highly desirable)
• Ability to work at pace, managing multiple projects and competing demands effectively
• Strong negotiation and communication skills
• High level of numeracy, organisation, and time management skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and SAP
• A self-starter with energy, enthusiasm, and a growth mindset - driven to make a real impact

Diversity Statement

FBC UK is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at FBC UK. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.