Senior Category Manager

CEL - Critical Power•Williamsburg, VA

13h

About The Position

CEL Critical Power designs and manufactures critical power infrastructure, including switchgear, modular power PODs, metering and automation, for data-centre and mission-critical customers in Europe and the United States. The company is establishing its first strategic procurement function as it targets 3–5x growth and prepares to bring new switchgear and POD factories online in Dublin in 2027. The Senior Category Manager owns a category of CEL’s spend end to end, securing the supply, capacity and cost needed to support business growth. This specialist role requires deep knowledge of the assigned market, including its suppliers, capacity, pricing, allocation practices, risks and constraints. The role translates that knowledge into category strategy, supplier agreements and commercial decisions that protect delivery, margin and cash. The position may also hold the buy/sell P&L for an assigned trading product line, including pricing with Sales, supplier terms, margin, stock risk and line growth. Travel is approximately 20–30% to suppliers in Europe, the US and Asia and to CEL sites.

Requirements

Specific buying or commercial experience in the assigned category, including knowledge of products, suppliers, market pricing and allocation, and where capacity sits.
At least 8 years of procurement, category management, sourcing or commercial experience in manufacturing or the wider industrial supply chain.
At least 3 years owning a category or major supplier portfolio.
Track record negotiating long-term, capacity or master supply agreements and delivering measurable cost and supply-security results.
Strong commercial and analytical skills, including should-cost, total cost of acquisition and contract terms such as indexation.
Ability to work confidently with engineers, production teams and supplier executives and influence without authority.
Working knowledge of ERP/MRP.
Degree in engineering, supply chain, business or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Willingness to travel around 20–30% to suppliers in Europe, the US and Asia and to CEL sites.

Nice To Haves

Experience in complex industrial manufacturing, such as automotive, electrical equipment, power distribution, critical power or data-centre infrastructure.
Experience in a high-growth or scale-up business.
MCIPS or an equivalent professional procurement qualification.

Responsibilities

Build and own a 2–3 year category strategy covering market and supplier analysis, demand outlook from S&OP, cost drivers, risks, target supply base and sourcing plan.
Monitor category capacity, lead times, pricing trends, new entrants, technology changes and supplier financial health, and brief the business on market developments.
Run sourcing events, perform should-cost analysis and select suppliers with Engineering based on total cost of acquisition.
Negotiate and manage long-term, master supply, capacity reservation, VMI and consignment agreements in coordination with Legal.
Set commercial terms, including price, indexation, payment terms, cancellation and remaindering, to protect margin and cash.
Translate the S&OP demand plan into supplier capacity commitments and allocations ahead of need, including long-lead orders that gate product launches.
Present supplier capacity, lead times and allocation at the monthly S&OP Procurement and Allocation Review, and maintain category supplier-capacity data in CEL’s planning data set.
Reduce single-source and unqualified supply exposure by qualifying second sources and alternatives with Engineering as design authority.
Own category material cost against bid, purchase price variance and cost avoidance, and provide Sales with current supply costs and approved suppliers for bids.
Drive value with Engineering and Production through make-vs-buy analysis, sub-assemblies, multi-use parts, parts reduction and design for manufacture.
Qualify suppliers before CEL relies on them, including technical specifications, audits and onboarding, in collaboration with Quality and Engineering.
Run supplier scorecards and business reviews covering delivery, quality, cost and responsiveness; lead supplier development and recovery when performance falls short.
Support BU Supply Chain Operations teams with shortage escalations and supplier recovery while leaving day-to-day expediting with those teams.
For an assigned trading product line, manage its buy/sell P&L, including pricing with Sales, supplier terms, margin, stock risk and growth.

Benefits

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.
Structured career development, professional training and leadership opportunities.

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