Head of Category – Senior Procurement Leadership Role

Key Responsibilities

• Category Strategy – Own and deliver a multi-year category plan aligned to business priorities, market dynamics, and enterprise objectives.
• Commercial Delivery – Lead high-value negotiations, supplier selections, and sourcing programmes that maximise value and efficiency.
• Supplier Relationship Management – Build strategic supplier partnerships, manage performance and risk, and drive continuous improvement.
• Governance & Risk – Ensure adherence to regulatory and organisational requirements, including outsourcing, ICT risk, data protection, and supplier oversight.
• Stakeholder Management – Partner with senior leaders to understand demand and shape procurement solutions that enable business results.
• Data-Driven Insights – Use analytics, benchmarking, and market intelligence to shape decisions and optimise commercial outcomes.
• Team Leadership – Manage and develop a small team, fostering high performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Qualification & Requirements

What will make you stand out

• Ability to translate complex business needs into clear, actionable category strategies.
• Strong commercial acumen with an excellent track record of delivering enterprise-level value.
• Skilled negotiator with experience managing complex supplier landscapes.
• Natural relationship-builder who can influence senior stakeholders while maintaining clear governance.
• Data-led approach to performance, sourcing, and risk decisions.
• A leadership style that develops capability, supports high performance, and encourages innovation.

Essential Qualifications

• Significant experience in procurement, category management, or strategic sourcing.
• Proven success delivering commercial value, performance improvement, and cost optimisation.
• Experience managing complex supplier ecosystems and high-value negotiations.
• Familiarity with technology enabled solutions or innovative sourcing models.
• Strong understanding of relevant regulatory/thematic requirements (e.g., outsourcing, ICT risk, supplier oversight, data protection).
• Experience supporting transformation, digitisation, or modernisation initiatives.

Note: Financial Services experience is not required. Candidates from any industry background are encouraged to apply.

Desirable Experience

• Experience with co-sourcing models, strategic alliances, partnerships, or investment linked sourcing.
• Exposure to innovation delivery, pilots, proofs of concept, or market scanning.
• Professional procurement qualification (e.g., CIPS).

Benefits

The Bank of Ireland company culture prioritises work-life balance with an opportunity for flexible working, along with 25 days annual leave and excellent pension contributions. Family can mean different things to different people; we offer 6 months paid leave, an innovative fertility and surrogacy policy and working parent supports.

Your wellbeing is important to us; we have an employee assistance program, WebDoctor and financial wellbeing coaches available. We also encourage and support staff to pursue educational and professional qualifications to grow and enhance your career!

Bank of Ireland Group is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace which values and benefits from the diversity of our workforce, this is supported by the development of our Employee Support Networks.

We offer reasonable accommodation at every stage of the application and interview process. If you require assistance, please contact recruitdirect@boi.com.