Senior Category Manager

CEL Critical Power; Dublin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

CEL Critical Power Ltd. is seeking a Senior Category Manager to own category strategy, supplier analysis and risk management for transformers, breakers, and related power products.

The role focuses on sourcing, negotiation, capacity security and cost improvement, working closely with Engineering, Production and Legal to secure long-term supply and cash flow. You will lead supplier performance, qualification and development, drive total cost of acquisition, and support CEL’s expansion into

Qualifications

• 8+ years in procurement, category management or sourcing in manufacturing.
• At least 3 years owning a category or major supplier portfolio.
• Track record of negotiating long-term, capacity or master supply agreements.
• Strong commercial and analytical skills: should-cost, total cost of acquisition, contract terms, indexation.
• Confident with engineers, production teams and supplier executives; able to influence without authority.
• Knowledge of ERP / MRP systems.
• Degree in engineering, supply chain, business or related field.

Responsibilities

• Own the category strategy with a 2-3 year horizon and supply base.
• Run sourcing events, should-cost analyses and supplier selection with Engineering.
• Negotiate long-term master supply, capacity reservations, and consignment agreements with Legal.
• Convert S&OP demand into capacity commitments and manage allocations.
• Maintain category supplier capacity data and reduce single-source exposure.
• Deliver cost improvements and maintain margin and cash.
• Hold P&L for the trading product line, pricing with Sales, terms, and stock risk.

Skills

Specific buying experience

Procurement leadership

Supplier portfolio ownership

Should-cost analysis

ERP / MRP knowledge

Education

Engineering / related degree

Tools

ERP / MRP software

Job description

CEL Critical Power is a global provider of mission-critical power solutions operating at the centre of the AI, hyperscale data centre and critical infrastructure ecosystem. Demand for CEL’s products is strong and accelerating. The challenge is not sales demand, it is executing growth at pace without compromising delivery certainty, production discipline or customer trust. Operating from its Irish base, CEL continues to scale its production capability in parallel with its US expansion, with similar ambitions to significantly increase output over the coming years. Ireland remains central to CEL’s global operating model and will continue to play a critical role in delivering high-quality, engineered products at scale.

Senior Category Manager is CEL’s expert in their market: who makes what, where capacity really sits, how suppliers price and allocate, and where the risks are. They turn that knowledge into a category strategy, supplier agreements and day-to-day commercial decisions that protect delivery, margin and cash.

This is a specialist role, not a generic buying role. CEL staffs specialists aligned to the constraint each market presents, because a market as tight as transformers, breakers or copper rewards people who understand the constraint.

Category Strategy

• Build and own a 2-3 year category strategy: market and supplier analysis, demand outlook from S&OP, cost drivers, risks, target supply base and sourcing plan.
• Know the market better than anyone in CEL, capacity, lead times, pricing trends, new entrants, technology change and supplier financial health, and brief the business on it.

Sourcing, Negotiation and Agreements

• Run sourcing events, should-cost analysis and supplier selection with Engineering, on a total cost of acquisition basis.
• Negotiate and manage long-term, master supply, capacity reservation, VMI and consignment agreements, with Legal.
• Set commercial terms - price, indexation, payment terms, cancellation and remaindering – that protect margin and cash.

Capacity and Supply Security

• Turn the S&OP demand plan into capacity commitments and allocations ahead of need, including the long-lead orders that gate new product launches.
• Bring supplier capacity, lead times and allocation to the monthly S&OP Procurement & Allocation Review, and maintain the category’s supplier capacity data in CEL’s planning data set.
• Reduce single-source and unqualified exposure: qualify second sources and alternatives with Engineering as design authority

Cost

• Own material cost against bid, purchase price variance and cost avoidance for the category, and give Sales accurate, current supply costs and approved suppliers for bids.
• Drive value with Engineering and Production: make-vs-buy, sub-assemblies, multi-use parts, parts reduction and design for manufacture.

Supplier Performance and Qualification

• Qualify every supplier before CEL relies on it: technical specifications, audits and onboarding, with Quality and Engineering.
• Run scorecards and business reviews on delivery, quality, cost and responsiveness; lead supplier development and recovery when performance falls short.
• Support the BU Supply Chain Operations teams with escalations on shortages and supplier recovery, while keeping day-to-day expediting with them.

Trading Business Unit

• Hold the buy/sell P&L for the assigned trading product line: pricing with Sales, supplier terms, margin, stock risk and growth of the line.

Essential:

• Specific buying or commercial experience in the seat’s category – this is the most important requirement. Candidates must know the products, the suppliers, how the market prices and allocates, and where capacity really sits.
• 8+ years in procurement, category management, sourcing or commercial roles in manufacturing or the wider industrial supply chain, with at least 3 years owning a category or major supplier portfolio.
• A track record of negotiating long-term, capacity or master supply agreements and delivering measurable cost and supply-security results.
• Strong commercial and analytical skills: should-cost, total cost of acquisition, contract terms, indexation.
• Confident with engineers, production teams and supplier executives; able to influence without authority.
• Working ERP / MRP knowledge.
• Degree in engineering, supply chain, business or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred:

• Comparable complex industrial manufacturing – for example automotive, electrical equipment, power distribution, critical power or data-centre infrastructure.
• Experience in a high-growth or scale-up business.
• MCIPS or equivalent professional procurement qualification.

Why Join CEL Critical Power?

Join a Trusted Industry Leader – 42 Years of Excellence

CEL has been delivering high-quality, bespoke power distribution solutions for over four decades, with products that stand the test of time.

Be Part of a Global Expansion

With CEL launching its first US manufacturing plant, you will have the opportunity to work on international projects and documentation standards while collaborating with colleagues across North America.

Collaborate with World-Class Engineers, Vendors & Industry Experts

You’ll work alongside leading engineers, project managers, document controllers, product managers, and global vendors, ensuring excellence and operational success across CEL’s international teams.

Shape the Future of CEL – Critical Power

This is more than just an operator role—it’s an opportunity to help forge the future of CEL and our expansion across the US.

Competitive Salary, Benefits & Career Growth

We offer structured career development, professional training, and leadership opportunities, ensuring long-term career progression.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule: Monday to Friday