Senior Category Manager

Senior Category Manager (Job Reference: )Primary Location :
Antrim-Belfast-Belfast Office Other Locations :

Armagh-Armagh-Armagh Office, Antrim-Ballymena-Ballymena Office, Tyrone-Omagh-Omagh Office Contract Type :
Permanent Duration of Contract/Contract End Date : N/AStatus :
Full-Time Hours per Week : 36

Working Pattern :
Monday - Friday Grade/Scale :
Senior Principal Officer (2) | NJC pts 49 - 52 |£60,886 - £64,147 per annum

Additional Allowance(s) :
Not Applicable Anticipated Interview Date(s) : 5 July 2026

Additional Information:
Base location to be determined on appointment. Suitable applicants who are not appointed to the immediate vacancy will be placed on a reserve list which will remain valid for one year and may be offered appointments at the discretion of the EA across all offices during that period.

JOB DESCRIPTION STRATEGIC UNIT:
Procurement and Corporate Services

RESPONSIBLE TO:
Head of Supplies and Services Procurement The Senior Category Manager will assist the Head of Supplies and Services to ensure the successful implementation of a compliant, consistent and professional Procurement Service within EA. The Senior Category Manager will be responsible for providing specialist informed, professional, expert procurement advice and guidance; developing and leading a procurement category to ensure VFM and best practice procurement and contribute to the enhancement of procurement standards across the Category Management structure to ensure continuing CoPE accreditation and maintain full compliance with Northern Ireland Public Procurement Policy (NIPPP), Procurement Policy Notes and Department of Finance Sourcing Toolkit.

They will be responsible for managing and leading staff.

The senior category manager will be responsible for the following leadership :

Main duties and responsibilities

Setting Vision and Strategy Working with the Head of Supplies and Service to establish, maintain and communicate a clear and compelling strategic direction for the service and category responsibility.

Contribute to the development of a strategic plan for the Service and the development of the service-specific business plan.

Translate the Corporate vision into service-specific direction and category strategy.

Contribute to the development and implementation of new policies in line with strategic direction.

Challenge conventional approaches, harness new approaches and technology and maximise efficiencies.

Managing the Organisation to Deliver Manage specialist areas delivery effectively to ensure that the service achieves the highest possible standards of performance and focuses on the needs of internal and external customers.

Agree service performance targets with the Head of Supplies and Services and provide regular progress reports.

Assist in the development agree and implement a robust annual operational plan for the service.

Delegate responsibilities and deploy staff according to their skills and abilities to meet the needs of the service.

Regularly monitor and review plans and make adjustments as required.

Manage and continuously improve the service and specialist category to ensure delivery against performance targets, and to ensure that best value for money is achieved.

Ensure that the service and specialist category contributes to overall Directorate and Corporate performance as appropriate, and provide update reports as required.

Ensure that the Head of Supplies and Services and customers receives high quality service-specific advice.

Apply resources effectively across specialist categories to maximise the delivery of front-line services.

Consider the financial implications relating to effective models of service delivery, and contribute to the successful achievement of the Savings Delivery Plan.

Ensure compliance with relevant legal, regulatory and statutory performance requirements.

Manage the service and category procurement expenditure budget in accordance with all relevant financial policy and procedures.

Follow agreed measures to deliver the service within budget, and take immediate corrective action as required.

Contribute effectively to quality and performance management systems and ensure that the service is being managed as per the requirements of these systems.

Ensure that employees within the service/specialist category team are provided with clear structure, roles and responsibilities and are supported to work in an integrated way.

Focus on addressing key workforce issues including recruitment, employee engagement, retention and training and development.

Investigate all complaints and adverse incidents where outcomes are below expected standards.

Establish effective and rigorous quality assurance systems to maintain high standards.

Leadership Work closely with the Head of Supplies and Service to provide the service with leadership and direction ensuring that corporate, directorate and service performance standards are achieved.

Promote the ethos and values of the authority and ensure that the service is focused on customer…