Category Manager

C015 APT MANAGEMENT SERVICES PTY LIMITED; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

APA is seeking a Category Manager - Corporate to join its Procurement, Property and Project Office on a 2ndment until 12 April 2027. The role focuses on developing category strategies aligned with APA’s objectives, driving value-for-money, and managing indirect spend across the organization.

Reporting to the Senior Category Manager - Digital & Corporate, you will lead sourcing initiatives, advise on market trends, manage supplier performance, and ensure compliant, high-performing outcomes in a

Qualifications

• Experience in category management, strategic sourcing or procurement within a large organization.
• Ability to develop and implement category strategies with measurable outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category plans for assigned spend categories.
• Partner with business stakeholders to identify priorities and deliver sourcing outcomes.
• Provide expert advice on strategy, market insights and contractual matters.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives and negotiate agreements.
• Manage supplier relationships and performance to ensure value and risk management.
• Drive continuous improvement across cost, process efficiency and sustainability.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Stakeholder engagement

Contract management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Job description

The Opportunity

At APA, our purpose is to secure Australia’s energy future. We’re not doing it alone. We’re doing it with our customers and communities as Australia’s energy infrastructure partner, a role our unique experience and expertise positions us to play. We now have an exciting opportunity available for a Category Manager - Corporate to join our Procurement, Property and Project Office team on a secondment basis until 12 April 2027. Reporting to the Senior Category Manager - Digital & Corporate, you will play a key role in developing and delivering category strategies that align with APA's business objectives, drive value-for-money outcomes, and support the strategic management of indirect spend across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category plans for assigned spend categories in line with APA's procurement governance framework and strategic objectives.
• Partner with business stakeholders to understand priorities, identify opportunities, and deliver sourcing and commercial outcomes.
• Provide expert advice on category strategy, market insights, sourcing activities, supplier performance, and contractual matters.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives and negotiate commercial arrangements that deliver value and manage risk.
• Manage supplier relationships and performance to ensure sustainable, compliant, and high-performing outcomes.
• Drive continuous improvement across cost, process efficiency, sustainability, risk management, and benefit realisation initiatives.

Background

• Demonstrated experience in category management, strategic sourcing, procurement or commercial roles within a large and complex organisation.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence, challenge and build trusted relationships across all levels of the business.
• Proven ability to develop and implement category strategies that deliver measurable commercial outcomes.
• Experience managing supplier relationships, commercial negotiations and contract performance.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to analyse market trends, identify opportunities and manage procurement risks.
• A proactive and collaborative approach, with the ability to manage competing priorities and drive outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

Working at APA

At APA, we’re committed to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace where you can achieve your best. We offer targeted career development programs designed to accelerate your career, competitive remuneration, employee benefits, flexible working arrangements, and wellbeing initiatives are all part of what we’ll offer you.

Our inclusive parental leave policy offers 18 weeks of leave, including superannuation, to support parents at work and in life.

We employ around 2,000 people across Australia and are committed to building a high-performing, customer-focused organisation where everyone feels safe, valued, and trusted to perform at their best.

We are APA At APA, we’re taking on one of Australia’s greatest challenges: the energy transition.

We’re not doing it alone. We’re doing it as Australia’s energy infrastructure partner, a role our unique experience and expertise positions us to play.

We proudly own, operate and manage a diverse $20 billion portfolio of assets which deliver essential services to communities and customers across Australia.

And we own more than 15,000 kilometres of gas pipelines which deliver energy to households and businesses across every corner of Australia.

As the partner of choice in delivering infrastructure solutions for the energy transition, we’re focused on bundled remote grid energy solutions, electricity and gas transmission, and future energy, including hydrogen and carbon capture and storage.

Our customer focused approach means we understand our customers and offer them reliable, innovative, and cost-effective energy solutions that support their decarbonisation ambitions.

We are committed to securing Australia’s energy future by delivering infrastructure solutions for Australia’s energy transition and supporting the decarbonisation ambitions of our customers and communities.

Join our team and be part of securing Australia’s energy future.

APA is an equal opportunity employer. The safety, health and wellbeing our people, community and environment a priority. We embrace diversity in our people to ensure our workforce is representative of the communities that we operate in.

Applicants must be eligible to work in Australia to be considered.

This vacancy works with critical APA data, systems or infrastructure and candidates are subject to background vetting (including Police checks) before & during employment.

Role closes on Thursday, 8 October 2026.

Role Reference Number: JR5103

At APA, our people are our most important asset. Our ~3,000 strong team manages all aspects of developing and running energy infrastructure, from right around Australia.

We also have opportunities for graduates, apprentices and interns, in a number of fields across our sites and offices. We are committed to creating a work environment where people can discover and use their unique capabilities, perform at their best and contribute meaningfully to APA’s success.