Head of Commercial & Merchandising Optimisation

Here at Sysco International we now have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Commercial & Merchandising Optimisation. This newly created role will focus on leading a team of International Optimisation Managers, responsible for identifying new opportunities and driving positive change to optimise our buying and selling initiatives, ultimately to drive commercial improvement for Sysco. Our goal is to deliver and partner with our suppliers and customers and internal stakeholder individuals and teams to positively change the way we buy and sell to improve margin %, which can then be re-invested by Sysco as needed to support business growth.

Reporting to the International Merchandising Director, you’ll identify the biggest margin opportunities and deploy suitable resource for better buying, better selling, and solving category assortment gap opportunities. Implementing major transformation activities across all markets, you’ll take the lead to ensure incremental improvements to our margins are achieved through cost of goods and commercial sales performance.

You’ll deliver true gross profit improvement through new or improved strategic sourcing techniques, and introduction of new buying and selling techniques. Working closely with the other European markets and stakeholders this role will share best practices, embed new processes and ways of working to drive forward new revenue initiatives across all markets.

This role is offering a home-based contract on a full-time permanent basis, with regular travel in country and Internationally, so flexibility is required.

Accountabilities

• Manage and lead the team of Commercial & Merchandising Optimisation Managers to motivate and drive the portfolio of strategy and profit improvement initiatives underway across both merchandising and commercial functions.
• Ensure the effective work of the team, prioritising work and resource where best appropriate, balancing both Merchandising and Commercial needs, and the individual Sysco country Operational Companies needs and prioritises, to achieve the best overall outcome for Sysco as a whole.
• Both lead and work with, within and for stakeholder teams and functions across Sysco’s markets to influence change and drive actions and improvements in ways of working, effectiveness and efficiency to drive margin and growth
• Achieve incremental improvements in triple-net COGs and GP through targeted project work, better buying, better selling, Sysco brand conversion
• Track success overtime and build reporting and calculating methodologies to measure success versus market to report on contribution to leadership and wider teams
• Work in partnership with the Head of Projects & Insights as part of the greater team to ensure the analytics from that team are used effectively to drive improvements, and workstreams carried out by the team are project managed effectively as one partner team.
• Be the overall lead “optimiser / improver” to drive change, constructively challenge in-country teams and lead from the centre to influence success
• Find sources of best practice from across Sysco and elsewhere to improve ways of working and drive alignment across each market
• Challenge the norm to introduce new strategies, processes and business practices to ensure improvements in COGs versus market benchmarks
• Be a major contributor to the success of PGM* across the Sysco International markets
• Act as deputy to the Director of International Merchandising.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

You’ll have extensive experience in a similar senior position, ideally within a Merchandising or Commercial function and within an FMCG or foodservice environment. A strong and motivated leader, you’ll be confident in driving complex workstreams and able to quickly identify key opportunities, turning these into deliverable and realistic project plans. You’ll need strong commercial acumen and a solid understanding of buying and selling initiatives, influencing positive change and driving initiatives to improve revenue. The ability to review and interpret data trends is required to make quick and effective decisions that will create new margin opportunities. You’ll also be key in delivering new propositions to the senior leadership teams across all International markets, so strong communication and presentation skills are essential.

• This role is a critical position within Sysco’s “Partnership Growth Management” (PGM) project across our international markets. PGM is a key initiative designed to improve Sysco’s margin and therefore facilitate growth for Sysco and is a project running concurrently across multiple International markets requiring detailed organisation and coordination. Within PGM we aim to make 100% data-based / fact-based decisions so this role is key to support that.

Sysco International was formed in January 2021, and comprises of Sysco’s foodservice operations outside the US, with operating companies in the UK (Brakes & Fresh Direct, kff & Medina), France, Ireland, Sweden, the Bahamas and Latin America, as well as Sysco’s export business, International Food Group. Sales through our International segment in the most recently reported quarter were $3.3 billion, driving significant profit growth.

At Sysco International everyone is welcome. We don’t want you to ‘fit our culture’ we want you to help define it and we actively celebrate the unique talents of each and every colleague. We don’t just look at your CV, we’re more focused on who you are and your potential. As part of our values, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone has a voice, is appreciated and has the same opportunities. We work hard to ensure that everyone feels part of our business, as we care for one another and connect the world through food and trusted partnerships. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone belongs and thrives at Sysco and we recognise that Sysco can only thrive when everyone feels they belong. We'll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, speak to our resourcing team who will be happy to support you.