Category Manager

Virgin Australia; City of Brisbane; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flight discounts & travel credits

Hybrid work style

Brisbane head office location

Travel discounts worldwide

Wellbeing and counselling support

Dress for Your Day

Job summary

Virgin Australia is seeking a Category Manager within our Strategic Procurement team in Brisbane to lead end-to-end category management across Services and Ground Fleet. You will partner with stakeholders to develop sourcing strategies, drive cost efficiencies and manage supplier performance.

The role demands strong negotiation, analytical capabilities and experience across the full procurement value chain. A hybrid work style is available in Brisbane's vibrant offices.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement or commercial management.
• Proven experience developing and executing category strategies across the full procurement value chain.
• Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated negotiation and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex procurement and sourcing initiatives, draft commercial terms and negotiate service and supply arrangements to achieve optimal outcomes for the airline.
• Develop and deliver category strategies across Services and Ground Fleet, aligned with business, operational and commercial objectives.
• Act as a trusted commercial advisor to senior stakeholders, providing commercial insight and identifying opportunities to maximise value.
• Lead end to end RFx processes, translating requirements into effective commercial strategies.
• Develop commercial models, benchmarks and total cost of ownership analysis.
• Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) for strategic suppliers, balancing commercial outcomes with service delivery.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

RFx processes

Job description

Hello. We're Virgin Australia. We're the airline that’s always done things a little different. Our way. The Virgin way. We're on a mission to make flying better than 'nice'. And to do that, it takes a team of talented people who are passionate about customer experience, doing the right thing always, with a focus on safety - in the air, on the ground and in our workplaces. A team who values real diversity and inclusion, in a big brand with big ambitions.

What you'll be doing:

As a Category Manager within our Strategic Procurement team, you'll play a pivotal role in delivering commercial and operational value across our Services and Ground Fleet categories.

This is a hands-on role driving end to end category management - from strategy development and sourcing through to negotiation, contracting and supplier relationship management. You'll partner closely with stakeholders across Virgin Australia to develop sourcing strategies that deliver cost efficiencies, manage risk, improve supplier performance and support operational outcomes.

You Will

• Lead complex procurement and sourcing initiatives, draft commercial terms and negotiate complex service and supply arrangements to achieve optimal outcomes for the airline.
• Develop and deliver category strategies across Services and Ground Fleet, aligned with business, operational and commercial objectives.
• Act as a trusted commercial advisor to senior stakeholders, providing commercial insight, challenging requirements and identifying opportunities to maximise value.
• Lead end to end RFx processes, translating business and operational requirements into effective commercial and sourcing strategies.
• Develop commercial models, benchmarks and total cost of ownership analysis to understand cost drivers, challenge supplier pricing and support negotiations and decision making.
• Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) for strategic and critical suppliers, balancing commercial outcomes with service delivery and operational requirements.

What you need to be successful:

• 5+ years' experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement or commercial management.
• Proven experience developing and executing category strategies across the full procurement value chain (demand, source, fulfil, manage).
• Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading complex RFx processes and translating business requirements into clear commercial outcomes.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to understand cost drivers, supplier pricing and commercial models, supported by excellent communication and influencing skills.

We're committed to looking after you, with some of the best benefits and conditions in the industry - including (but not limited to):

• Discounted flights for you and your loved ones (including $1000 worth of travel credits per year)
• A flexible, hybrid work style. Work from home or the office, adapt your location to suit your style and needs
• One of Brisbane's most admired head office locations, with South Bank train station, a supermarket, pharmacy, and lunch options downstairs plus a 5-minute walk to the Busway, a rooftop restaurant and onsite gym (with a low membership fee) and South Bank Parklands just across the road
• Discounts on travel insurance, lounge membership, car hire, accommodation, and experiences worldwide
• Cheaper hospitality, retail, technology, beauty and wellness services
• Free counselling and access to a wellbeing app to support your physical, mental, social and financial health
• 'Dress for Your Day' - enjoy the freedom to wear whatever makes you feel great for the type of work you do and the day you have ahead of you.

When everyone is included, everyone wins:

We're all individuals. And we love that. That's why we encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disability, those from diverse cultural backgrounds, our friends in the LGBTQIA+ community, and anyone else who wants to join our family.