Commercial Category Manager | Food Services

Turn commercial insights into exceptional food experiences! At LagardèreAWPL , we’re not just the largest Travel Retail operator in the Pacific – we’re the most passionate! With 150+ stores across Australia, & New Zealand, we bring big brands to life in airports and travel hubs. Our dynamic team of 1,500+ professionals work across 40 unique retail concepts – and now, we want YOU to join our team! The Role: *12 month full-time max term contract covering mat leave Reporting to the Head of Food Services, and working in our Sydney head office located right outside Townhall Station you’ll take ownership of commercial strategy and category performance across our Food Services and Grab & Go portfolio .

This is an opportunity to combine your commercial acumen, analytical thinking and category expertise to drive sales growth, improve margins and deliver compelling customer offerings. From menu architecture and pricing strategy to supplier negotiations and product innovation, you’ll turn data and market insights into meaningful commercial decisions. Working closely with Operations, Culinary, Marketing, Supply Chain and Finance, you’ll ensure our categories deliver the right balance of customer appeal, operational practicality and financial performance.

If you love connecting the dots between commercial strategy, customer behaviour and great food experiences, this is your opportunity to make a real impact! What You’ll Do: ✅ Drive Commercial Strategy: Develop and implement category plans that support sales growth, profitability and long-term business objectives ✅ Own Category Performance: Analyse sales, margins, product mix and customer trends to identify opportunities and improve commercial outcomes ✅ Lead Pricing & Menu Strategy: Shape menu architecture, pricing structures and value propositions across our Food Services and Grab & Go concepts ✅ Optimise Product Ranges: Oversee ranging, product lifecycle management, recipe costing and range rationalisation to maintain commercially viable offerings ✅ Build Strategic Supplier Partnerships: Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, rebates, trading terms, promotional support and new product opportunities ✅ Champion Innovation: Identify emerging market trends, customer insights and new product opportunities to develop commercially sound concepts and offers ✅ Collaborate Across the Business: Partner with Operations, Culinary, Marketing, Supply Chain and Finance to bring category strategies to life ✅ Strengthen Commercial Governance: Establish consistent processes, frameworks and performance reporting to support informed decision-making and effective store execution ✅ Lead & Influence: Provide clear commercial direction, align stakeholders and build capability across teams to deliver sustainable improvements What We’re Looking For: ✅Demonstrated experience in category management, commercial management, buying or a similar senior commercial role within foodservice, hospitality, retail or a multi-site environment ✅Strong commercial acumen, with a track record of managing sales, margins, pricing, costs and category performance ✅Experience developing and implementing category strategies, including product ranging, menu architecture, pricing and product lifecycle management ✅Proven supplier relationship management and negotiation skills, including pricing, rebates, trading terms and promotional agreements ✅Strong analytical skills, with the ability to turn sales, margin, product mix and customer data into actionable insights ✅An understanding of key foodservice commercial drivers, including cost of goods sold (COGS), gross margin, wastage, product mix and value perception ✅Experience working cross-functionally with Operations, Culinary, Marketing, Supply Chain and Finance ✅Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills, with strong attention to detail and commercial governance Perks & Benefits: 🏠 Flexible Working – Flexible start and finish times, with the opportunity to work from home, one day per week 🛍️ Staff Discounts – Get exclusive discounts on products in our stores + extra savings on water & hot beverages 🚀 Career Development – We offer opportunities to upskill, take on new challenges and grow your career within our vibrant network 👨‍👩‍👧 Paid Parental Leave – We proudly support growing families with up to 18 weeks of employer-funded top-up paid parental leave scheme + additional personal leave entitlements 🎁 Employee Referral Program – Refer your awesome network for a chance to receive a reward + go into the running to win an end-of-year bonus 💆‍♀️ Wellbeing Leave – From day one our permanent employees receive a paid Wellbeing Leave day 🤝 Employee Assistance Program - Everyone has FREE access to TELUS Health – a 24/7 service offering compassionate, confidential support whenever you need it We Value Diversity & Inclusion At LagardèreAWPL, we value diversity, inclusivity, and a collaborative work environment, where you will have the opportunity to work alongside a talented team of people who share your passion for creativity and excellence.

Join us at LagardèreAWPL and be part of a global company that celebrates creativity, innovation, and a commitment to sustainable practices. 📢 APPLY NOW and let’s make travel retail magic together!