Strategic Sourcing Consultant

Company Description

Our Global vision is to build a better McDonald’s and we are working hard to be the UK & Ireland’s best-loved restaurant company.

Our values drive our culture and shape our beliefs, our priorities, and our actions. They influence the decisions we make, how we treat one another and how we show up as a brand to the world.

Serve: We put our customers and our people first

Inclusion: We open our doors to everyone

Integrity: We do the right thing

Community: We are good neighbours

Family: We get better together

Job Description

The Opportunity

As a Strategic Sourcing Consultant, you will manage specific categories within the £2bn+ UK&I spend portfolio. You will be responsible for delivering sourcing projects, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring that agreed strategies are executed effectively. This role bridges strategic design and operational execution.

What you'll be doing:

• Category Management: Manage designated sourcing categories, analyzing spend and identifying opportunities for value creation.
• Supplier Engagement: Build strong supplier relationships, monitor performance, and drive continuous improvement.
• Project Delivery: Deliver sourcing projects from initiation through to implementation, including cost-saving initiatives.
• Negotiation Support: Lead day-to-day supplier negotiations as well as Strategic Sourcing Reviews
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with functions such as Food Development, QA, and Marketing to deliver business needs.
• Reporting: Produce accurate reports and insights to support strategic decisions

What Team will I be a part of?

You’ll be joining the Strategic Sourcing team, a key function within our broader Supply Chain department. In this role, collaboration is essential—you’ll work closely with partners across the department and the wider business, both locally and globally, to ensure alignment and drive impactful outcomes.

Who are my customers?

As Strategic Sourcing Consultant, you will play a key role within the Supply Chain team, developing and nurturing strong relationships across all core functions—including Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Nutrition, Logistics, Business Planning, Digital, Sustainability, and Indirect Sourcing.

You’ll also collaborate closely with cross-functional partners across the wider business, including Food Development, Marketing, Finance, Business Strategy & Insight, Operations, and Impact, ensuring alignment and shared ownership of strategic goals.

Externally, you will be responsible for maintaining and strengthening relationships with our Supplier Partners, third-party Distributors, and Franchisees, acting as a trusted representative of the Strategic Sourcing function

Qualifications

What you'll Need:

Education and Experience:

• Degree (or equivalent) in any discipline;

• Several years of relevant procurement experience in food, beverage, packaging or operating supplies.

• Competent in supplier/partner management and development.

• Strong knowledge of budgetary control and compliance.

• Proven experience in category strategy and objective setting.

Technical Skills:

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.

• Computer-literate with the ability to quickly adapt to new software and tools.

Leadership and Interpersonal Skills:

• Strong team player with the ability to build and maintain relationships.

• Pragmatic, thoughtful, and customer-driven approach.

• Ability to lead challenging situations in a timely manner, considering the needs of all partners.

Communication and Feedback:

• Ability to give and receive feedback and use positively to development.

• Strong written and verbal communicator with an adaptable style dependent on audience

Strategic and Networking Skills:

• Demonstrated capability to build validated networks and relationships across the business

• Strategic approach to interactions with all partners and suppliers, tailored to achieve desired outcomes.

What you'll get:

• Competitive salary, plus a comprehensive benefits package including Bonus, location Allowance, free parking, lunch and gym access.

• Access to industry-leading training and career development opportunities.

• A collaborative and inclusive culture, where your ideas are valued.

• Hybrid working, offering a mix of office 3 days per week and remote for 2!

Additional Information

At McDonald’s we are People from all Walks of Life...

People are at the heart of everything we do, and they make the McDonald’s experience. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture that means people can be their best authentic self in our restaurants and offices, which helps us to better serve our customers. We have a strong heritage of diversity and representation within our communities, which we are proud of. The diversity of our people, customers, Franchisees and suppliers gives us strength.

We do not tolerate inequality, injustice or discrimination of any kind. These are hugely important issues and a brand with our reach and relevance means we have a very meaningful role to play.

We also recognise our responsibility as a large employer to continue being active in our communities, helping to develop skills and drive aspirations that will help people to be more aware of the world of work and more successful within it, whether with McDonald’s or elsewhere.”