Purchasing Lead

Job Title: Purchasing Lead Cental Major Project Location: Cental Engineering HQ, Carlow (with occasional site travel) Reports To: Project Manager Liaises With: Fabrication Supervisor, Electrical Supervisor, Stores, Ardmac PM, Planning, QA/QC, Commercial, Vendors Purpose of the Role: To lead all procurement activities for Cental's major modular data centre project, ensuring materials, consumables, and services are purchased in line with project schedules, specifications, and cost constraints.
Key Responsibilities: Develop and execute the project purchasing plan aligned to the master schedule and production phases (FAB, Electrical Fit-Out, Testing and site transfer).
Liaise with Design and Project Engineering to finalise BOMs.
Engage and manage vendor relationships, ensuring adherence to spec, lead times, and quality expectations.
Place and track orders via Centals ERP system.
Manage long lead item visibility and ensure no fabrication or install downtime due to procurement delays.
Attend weekly project reviews and supplier meetings.
Ensure full traceability and material compliance documentation for QA/QC handover.
Track and report purchasing KPIs: OTIF (On Time in Full), cost variance, and supplier performance.
Key Requirements: Minimum 5 years' experience in project procurement within construction, MEP or manufacturing.
Strong ERP/system skills Excellent communication and vendor management skills.
Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced modular delivery environment.

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