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.

I've managed to land the perfect role, and I can't express enough gratitude to Chanel for everything she's done. From the very first stage of the application right through to securing the offer, she consistently went above and beyond. She kept me informed at every step and was, without doubt, the best recruiter I've ever worked with. I truly can't thank her enough.

Vanrath has been an excellent company to work with. Emma, who handled my recruitment process, was extremely professional and genuinely pleasant to speak with. She quickly found me a position that didn't just come up fast, but was perfectly suited to my background, skills, and interests. Her support throughout my employment was incredibly helpful, and she stayed in regular contact. Eve was also fantastic and always responded promptly to any questions I had. I would gladly recommend Vanrath to anyone, and I would absolutely return to them in the future if I needed their help again.

Ross Stevenson has been outstanding-both as a professional and as a people-focused recruiter-during my recent job search. Thanks to his insight, support, and expertise, I've secured an exciting new role with HSCNI in a very short space of time. I would wholeheartedly recommend Ross Stevenson and the Vanrath recruitment team to anyone looking to advance their career. Sincere thanks to Ross and the entire Vanrath team.