Senior Category Manager

CEL Critical Power designs and manufactures critical power infrastructure – switchgear, modular power PODs, metering and automation – for data-centre and mission-critical customers in Europe and the United States, with its Group HQ and manufacturing in Dublin and a US operation in Williamsburg, Virginia. The business is targeting 3–5x growth, with new switchgear and POD factories coming on line in Dublin in 2027. CEL is building its first strategic procurement function, and these roles are its core.

What you will do!

Own a category of CEL’s spend end to end and secure the supply, capacity and cost the business needs to grow 3–5x. The 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.

Core Accountabilities

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 and 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• Travel: around 20–30%, to suppliers in Europe, the US and Asia and to CEL sites.
• Preferred
• Comparable complex industrial manufacturing – for example automotive, electrical equipment, power distribution, critical power or data-center infrastructure.
• Experience in a high-growth or scale-up business.
• MCIPS or equivalent professional procurement qualification.

What’s Offered:

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Dynamic and innovative work environment

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.