Procurement Lead

Job Title:                                         Procurement Lead
Location:                                   FAI HQ, Abbottstown, Dublin

Direct Reporting Line:                Finance Director

Duration:                                         Permanent / Full Time

Work Model:                                  Hybrid

Introduction

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is the national governing body for football in Ireland, driving the growth, promotion, and development of the game at all levels. We are passionate about inspiring participation, supporting talent, and celebrating the power of football to unite communities across the country. With a proud history and an ambitious vision for the future, the FAI is committed to fostering excellence on and off the pitch, ensuring the game is inclusive, accessible, and a source of national pride.

Purpose of the Role

The Procurement Lead is responsible for leading and embedding best practice procurement across the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), ensuring all procurement activity is conducted in line with the FAI Procurement Policy, Delegation of Authority, governance requirements and applicable legislation.

Working as part of the Finance team, the role provides procurement expertise across the organisation, supporting departments with commercial advice, managing tender processes, driving value for money and ensuring effective procurement governance and audit compliance.

The role is both strategic and operational, acting as the FAI’s procurement subject matter expert while delivering end-to-end procurement activities without direct line management responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement Governance

• Maintain and develop the FAI Procurement Policy, procedures, templates and supporting documentation.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with internal controls, governance standards and audit requirements.
• Promote transparent, fair and ethical procurement practices.
• Monitor compliance through reviews, reporting and spot checks.
• Provide procurement updates and reporting to the Finance Director, Procurement Committee and senior leadership.

Tender & Sourcing Management

• Lead competitive tender processes for goods, services and works in line with procurement thresholds.
• Develop sourcing strategies for significant or high-risk procurements.
• Prepare tender documentation, evaluation frameworks, procurement reports and award recommendations.
• Coordinate supplier communications, evaluations and cross-functional tender teams.
• Maintain complete procurement records and audit trails.

Business Partnering

• Act as the primary procurement advisor to FAI departments.
• Support annual procurement planning and sourcing strategies.
• Provide commercial guidance on supplier selection, market opportunities and value-for-money solutions.
• Support departments in meeting operational requirements while maintaining procurement standards.

Supplier & Contract Management

• Manage supplier engagement while ensuring fairness, transparency and commercial value.
• Support supplier onboarding by coordinating procurement, due diligence and contract documentation requirements.  Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation and strategic sourcing.
• Support commercial negotiations and supplier performance reviews.
• Facilitate supplier performance reviews with business owners, monitoring agreed SLAs and KPIs where appropriate.
• Work with business units to support effective contract management.

Contract & Financial Governance

• Work closely with Legal and Finance teams to ensure appropriate review and approval processes are followed.
• Ensure procurement activity aligns with approved budgets, Delegation of Authority and the FAI PO policy.
• Ensure procurement documentation supports contract execution and audit requirements.

Policy & Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve procurement processes, efficiency and value delivery.
• Develop procurement guidance, templates and tools for FAI staff.
• Provide procurement awareness and guidance across the organisation.
• Deliver procurement training and awareness sessions to staff, budget holders and key stakeholders to promote compliance with procurement policies and best practice.
• Maintain knowledge of procurement best practice and regulatory developments.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Significant experience in procurement, sourcing or commercial management.
• Experience managing competitive tender processes from initiation through to contract award.
• Strong understanding of procurement governance, policies and best practice.
• Experience preparing tender documentation, evaluation processes and procurement reports.
• Experience working within approval frameworks and audit environments.
• Strong commercial negotiation and analytical skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships across multiple functions.
• Excellent communication, organisation and reporting skills.

Desirable

• Procurement qualification (CIPS or equivalent).
• Experience within a sporting, public sector, not-for-profit or regulated organisation.
• Experience with contract management and procurement systems.
• Experience supporting internal or external audits.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Integrity, professionalism and strong ethical judgement.
• Ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Commercial awareness and sound decision-making skills.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach.
• Strong attention to detail and organisational capability.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple procurement projects.

Our Benefits

We are proud of the range of benefits we can provide:

• Two premium level tickets to each home international game
• Sick pay scheme and family friendly leave
• Opportunities to work at international matches
• Company pension
• Life assurance
• Bike to work scheme
• Free onsite parking
• Employee assistance programs
• Hybrid working arrangements and flexible hours working arrangements
• Discounted access to the National Aquatic Centre and gym complex

Application Details

Closing date for receipt of applications is close of business on Wednesday 29 July 2026. Shortlisting and interviewing process will take place thereafter.

The Football Association of Ireland is an equal opportunities employer and promotes Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I).