Category Manager

This is a senior commercial delivery role within a public sector body based in Dublin. The position requires an experienced procurement professional to take full ownership of a defined spending category. The successful candidate will operate as a strategic Category Manager rather than a tender administrator, developing sourcing plans, managing commercial risk, and advising internal business units on public sector compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Category Management: Manage a dedicated spending category, monitoring supply markets, commercial models, and procurement risks.

• Strategy Development: Formulate and execute category strategies that align with corporate objectives and delivery timelines.

• Tendering & Execution: Lead complex, high-value public competitions end-to-end in compliance with Irish and EU public procurement law.

• Sourcing Design: Establish procurement routes, selection/award criteria, and evaluation methodologies.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with senior internal stakeholders to develop commercial solutions, and lead multi-disciplinary evaluation and moderation panels.

• Contracting & Governance: Manage the full lifecycle of competitions, including Regulation 84 reporting and contract finalisation. Assist in establishing contract management frameworks across the category.

• Risk & Compliance: Identify and mitigate legal, commercial, and operational risks, ensuring adherence to national public spending codes and audit requirements.

Requirements

• Public Procurement Expertise: A strong track record of leading complex procurement processes under Irish and EU public procurement law is essential.

• Category Experience: Proven capability operating as a strategic category manager rather than a tender coordinator.

• Commercial Judgement: Ability to design outcome-focused sourcing strategies that manage risk and deliver value.

• Communication: Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to guide project teams through regulatory frameworks.

• Problem Solving: A pragmatic, solution-orientated approach to compliance within complex project environments.

• Qualifications: A professional procurement qualification (e.g., CIPS or equivalent) is advantageous, but practical expertise in public procurement law is the primary requirement.