Procurement Manager

CEL is an Irish based 40-year manufacturer, distributor and exporter of electrical switchgear and controls, and related products and services, focused on the supplying the global Data Centre industry.

Operating from 400,000ft2 of manufacturing capacity in Williamsburg, Virginia, we aim to double in size each year for the next three years.

CEL is led by a hard-working team who follow traditional working practices, value collaboration, continuous improvement, excellence in quality and commercial curiosity.

Through this role, you will ensure CEL continue to enhance on our reputation for building the best quality switchgear with support systems that exceed our customer expectations.

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Director of Supply Chain, we are seeking a highly competent Procurement Manager who will work in partnership with their peers across the company to ensure Best-in-Class performance on behalf of CEL and our customers. Managing a team of Buyer / Planners, the role will be directly responsible for providing cost effective and efficient management of our electrical switchgear components, assemblies, related materials and service requirements for customer projects.

The role ensures high-quality, cost-effective OTD of components and services that support the design, manufacture and delivery of CELs switchgear products, aligned with our procurement policies and strategy.

Developing and maintaining excellent supplier relationships, driving strategic sourcing initiatives, and continuously improving procurement performance, and acting as a point of escalation for any procurement issues is a critical aspect of the role. You will require a high degree of financial and commercial acumen with a comprehensive understanding of Supply Chain methodologies.

Requirements

Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management:

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for electrical and mechanical components e.g. circuit breakers, copper busbars, metal enclosures, MCCBs/ACBs and CTs.
• Identify, evaluate and qualify suppliers based on technical capability, quality performance, cost competitiveness and delivery reliability.
• Work with and utilise our SIOPS process to ensure procurement strategies i.e. demand planning and materials forecasting, match revenue budgets and adjust for movements in project deliverables.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing agreements, framework deals and long-term supply agreements.
• Manage supplier performance through KPIs (OTIF, quality, lead time adherence, service level etc).
• Drive supplier development and continuous improvement initiatives.

Operational Procurement:

• Oversee purchase order management, expediting and resolution of supply issues.
• Ensure material availability to meet production schedules and project delivery timelines.
• Collaborate closely with engineering to source compliant alternatives or new component introductions.
• Manage inventory levels to optimise working capital while minimising stockouts and obsolescence.

Cost & Value Engineering:

• Lead cost-reduction programs across key commodity groups without compromising quality or safety.
• Analyse total cost of ownership and implement value‑engineering initiatives in partnership with engineering and manufacturing.
• Conduct market / price trend analysis for raw materials such as copper, steel, aluminium and electrical components.

Quality, Compliance & Risk Management:

• Ensure all sourced components meet relevant electrical UL standards, where applicable.
• Partner with QC/QA to resolve non‑conformances and ensure corrective actions with suppliers.
• Assess supply risks and implement mitigation strategies, especially for long‑lead or critical components.
• Maintain compliance with EHS and ethical procurement standards.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with peer team members to ensure seamless supply chain performance.
• Support NPI projects by sourcing components that meet technical, cost, and lead‑time requirements.
• Contribute to Make‑vs‑Buy decisions and outsourcing strategies when relevant.

Key Competencies:

• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management abilities.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen with sound business judgment.
• Effective communication and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• Continuous improvement mindset (Lean/Six Sigma desirable).
• Strategic and analytical thinker with a hands-on, results-driven mindset.
• Strong leadership presence and ability to inspire cross-functional teams.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• High level of integrity, professionalism and resilience.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain or related field.
• 5+ years senior experience, preferably in electrical, switchgear, or industrial equipment sectors.
• Demonstrated success in supplier management and technical sourcing.
• Professional certifications (CIPS, APICS) beneficial.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems e.g. SAP By Design.
• Familiarity with electrical switchgear systems and data centre environments is a plus.

Benefits

We strongly believe that seeking out and hiring the most diverse talent and creating an inclusive workplace is the way to create an exceptional and innovative workplace for our employees which will deliver excellence in service to our customers. We encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experience to join this multicultural, hard-working team.