Job description

VANRATH are delighted to be partnering with a major company in Northern Ireland with the Recruitment of a Category Manager to join a growing and dynamic company based in Belfast.

This position is based in the company's Belfast office. Monday - Friday position. Hybrid working is available (80% in the office / 20% at home)

This is a Permanent position. This company has an excellent reputation.

Salary

Negotiable + other Additional Benefits (Top Company) + Fantastic work benefits and Environment + Holiday Package (25 days leave + Stats) & Progression Opportunities

Overview:
As a Category Manager, you will oversee and manage multiple categories, driving cost-effective procurement of goods and services while upholding high standards of quality, compliance, and supplier performance.

Responsibilities:

Partner with stakeholders to understand category needs and ensure effective service delivery.
Lead sourcing, tendering, and procurement strategies aligned with business goals and sustainability standards.
Build strong supplier relationships, managing performance, contracts, and disputes.
Drive cost savings, efficiency, and innovation through strategic sourcing and improvement projects.
Monitor markets, assess risks, and implement contingency and sustainability initiatives.
Use procurement tools (e.g., Nav, Qliksense) to enable data-driven decisions.
Ensure compliance with Health & Safety regulations and promote a safe workplace.
Support and mentor team members, pursue continuous development, and maintain flexibility for travel and changing business needs.

Requirements:

Degree-level education in Business, Procurement, Supply Chain, or related discipline, or equivalent work experience.
Minimum 4 years of proven procurement and negotiation experience in a similar role.
Demonstrable success in sourcing, supplier negotiation, and cost-saving initiatives.
Experience in managing supplier relationships and contract performance.
Track record of working cross-functionally with internal stakeholders.
Strong understanding of procurement best practices and supply chain management.

Desired criteria :

CIPS qualification (MCIPS) or actively working towards it.
Experience managing a small team or mentoring junior staff.
Familiarity with sustainability reporting standards or carbon reduction frameworks.
Project management skills (e.g. Prince2 or Agile methodologies).
Advanced Excel or data analysis skills for reporting and insight generation.

For more information on this role please reach out to Jack Groves @ VANRATH for more information.

From my very first interaction with VANRATH, it was clear that they operate to an exceptionally high professional standard and genuinely care about delivering the right outcome for their candidates. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, they invested time in getting to know me properly-exploring my professional background, strengths, and long-term career aspirations in real depth. This thoughtful approach meant that every opportunity they presented was carefully aligned with my skills, ambitions, and future direction.

I worked closely with Sean, who was outstanding throughout the entire process. He went above and beyond to ensure that the role I secured was not just suitable, but an excellent fit. The efficiency of the process was remarkable-within only a couple of weeks of submitting my CV, I was already reviewing and signing a contract. I'm extremely grateful for the dedication, commitment, and hard work shown by Sean and the wider VANRATH team. Thank you to everyone involved for making the experience so smooth and successful.

I would have no hesitation in recommending VANRATH as a recruitment partner. My experience working with Adrian Harrison was particularly positive. Adrian took significant time to fully understand what I was looking for in my next career move, ensuring that my expectations, priorities, and long-term goals were clearly defined. He actively explored the market on my behalf, identifying roles and organisations that genuinely matched what I was seeking.

Thanks to Adrian's strong relationships with employers, he was able to provide valuable insight into the company and role, which gave me a great deal of confidence throughout the process. His ongoing support was exceptional-he regularly checked in, provided honest guidance, and even made himself available outside standard working hours to keep me updated. The level of care and effort he put into my search was outstanding. A truly five-star experience from start to finish.

VANRATH were incredibly supportive during my search for a new position. Jack was excellent to work with-he maintained consistent communication, ensured I was kept fully informed at every stage, and always made it clear what the next steps would be. His guidance and practical interview advice were particularly valuable and made a real difference to my preparation. I felt supported, informed, and confident throughout the entire process.