Category Manager, Consulting, Marketing and Professional Services

Position description

Applications are invited for the position of Consulting, Marketing and Professional Services Category Manager, Ireland and UK in the IT and Group Services Team, Enterprise Services Procurement. The Category Manager develops, influences and leads implementation of procurement strategies and manages change for their assigned business critical categories of spend.

The Category Manager assists various business units in procuring business critical services, achieving best value for money, while ensuring compliance with EU Directives, statutory regulations, internal procedures and ESB’s Code of Ethics. The successful candidate will manage a Category team within Procurement, manage key stakeholders in the sector, market and business, and support and enable implementation of ESB’s Sustainable Procurement Vision.  

This role represents an excellent career development opportunity for the right candidate, who will gain invaluable commercial experience and training in an activity which delivers significant value and savings to ESB and supports and enables delivery of ESB NZ Strategy. 

Key Responsibilities

• Providing leadership and direction for the category, including advice in relation to sourcing plans, appropriate procurement strategies, achievement of best value for money, contract management and vendor relationship management
• Liaison with senior stakeholders in relation to the operation of the Corporate Consultancy Panels
• Lead a team of Category Buyers, to ensure that they have agreed OKRs and development plans in place and have the skills and competencies to undertake their roles.
• Ensuring compliance with ESB procurement procedures and delivering the required service levels to the business, including reviewing exemption from tendering/sole provider exemption requests to ensure compliance with ESB procurement procedures
• Management of all relevant tenders through the procurement process to a successful outcome.
• Engagement with key stakeholders to ensure that procurements are planned and that required service levels are being maintained.  Providing procurement advice and guidance on the management of live contracts, including amendments and extensions to existing contracts.
• Contributing to the ongoing development of ESB Group procurement procedures to provide continuous improvement to reflect an evolving competitive external environment.

Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• A relevant professional qualification or 3rd level qualification, or equivalent work experience
• 7+ years relevant business experience
• Excellent interpersonal, communications and stakeholder management skills
• Proven experience managing a team of professionals
• High level of commitment, commercial acumen and excellent interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of ESB’s procurement procedures, organisation structure and relevant Corporate Policies.

Desirable

• An appreciation of EU and Government policies and legislation in relation to procurement, including the EU Utilities Directive.
• Relevant knowledge of commercial market practices and supply chain risks.
• Appreciation of sustainable procurement.

Location

This position will be based in ESB Head Office, 27 Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin.

Smart Working at ESB is designed to make ‘in-person’ time together as purposeful as possible while also enabling the effective use of digital tools and hybrid arrangements to preserve our commitment to flexibility. The successful candidate may work flexibly within the jurisdiction where they have been employed, with attendance at the workplace for in-person collaboration at least two days per week. All Smart Working arrangements are subject to regular review based on the operational requirements of the role, the team, and the business.

Reporting To

Procurement Manager IT &GS

Why Work with Us?

• Opportunity to lead Ireland’s transition to net zero carbon future
• Career development through mentoring and training 
• Corporate Social Responsibility Opportunities
• Sports and Social Clubs
• Networking opportunities
• Credit Union
• Generous Pension
• Access to staff well-being programmes
• Generous parental leave entitlements
• Strong values-based and inclusive culture
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Great team environment working to our Core Values: Courageous, Caring, Driven and Trusted

Salary

€71,979 - €84,000 per anum 

Closing Date

3rd July 2026

• Accountable and Ethical
• Collaborative
• Growing and Adaptive
• Proactive
• Respectful and Supportive

Notes

Your application will be held in reserve for 6 months should you be suitable for the role.

The successful candidate will be required to evidence their right to work in the Republic of Ireland  prior to commencement of employment.