Category Manager

Uniting AgeWell Careers; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging benefit

Employee Assistance Program

Values-based organisation

Job summary

Uniting AgeWell is seeking a Category Manager in procurement to lead strategy, sourcing, and supplier performance across services for older people in Victoria and Tasmania. The role reports to the Director of Procurement and offers hybrid working with broad organisational exposure.

You will develop category strategies, manage tenders, contracts and performance, and drive cost savings while balancing quality and service continuity. Applications close soon.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in business, commerce, supply chain or a related discipline, or equivalent procurement experience
• Demonstratable category management and strategic sourcing experience across multiple spend areas
• A record of delivering verified savings, cost avoidance or broader value against clear baselines
• End-to-end ownership of complex tenders, evaluations, negotiations and contract awards
• Experience managing supplier performance through KPIs, scorecards, reviews and remediation plans
• Strong contract lifecycle capability, including renewals, compliance, performance and supplier exits
• Evidence of using spend data, market insight and demand analysis to improve commercial decisions
• Credibility influencing senior leaders and frontline stakeholders without relying on direct authority
• Experience in aged care, health, human services, not-for-profit or another regulated setting is highly regarded

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category strategies aligned with organisational priorities, demand and market conditions
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including market analysis, tenders, evaluation, negotiation and contract award
• Manage the full contract lifecycle, from formation and implementation through to renewal, performance management and exit
• Establish supplier scorecards, lead performance reviews and resolve commercial or service issues before they affect operations
• Use spend analytics and market intelligence to identify savings, cost avoidance, risk reduction and service improvement opportunities
• Increase purchasing through preferred suppliers and catalogues while reducing off-contract spend and unmanaged contract expiries
• Partner with care, clinical and operational leaders to ensure goods and services support safe, effective and person-centred care
• Full time, Monday to Friday with hybrid working options available

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Sourcing

Supplier performance

Contract lifecycle

Spend analytics

Market intelligence

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Tertiary qualification in business or related

Job description

About Us:

At Uniting AgeWell, our focus is on supporting older people to experience a sense of wellbeing, choiceand independence in their lives, to feel valued members of their community and to have easy accessto the community or residential services they need to live the life they want. With a range of servicesin many locations in Victoria and Tasmania, our 5,000 staff and 600 volunteer staff are committed tohigh quality services and care.

Why choose Uniting AgeWell?

• Salary packaging benefit up to $15,900 + $2,650 annually
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programavailable 24/7 for our staff
• Bring your commercial skills to an organisation where the outcomes genuinely matter
• See your work contribute to quality services and better experiences for older people
• Own meaningful work with the scope to improve services, suppliers and long-term value
• Work alongside leaders who understand that value is about more than the lowest price
• Be part of not-for-profit, for-purpose,values-basedorganisation

About the role:

Join Uniting AgeWell as Category Manager and take ownership of assigned spend categories from strategy through to measurable value realisation. Reporting to the Director of Procurement, you will lead sourcing, contract negotiations, supplier performance and category improvement across services supporting older people in Victoria and Tasmania. Working closely with operational, clinical, finance and senior leaders, you will ensure procurement decisions balance quality, risk, service continuity and commercial value.

This is an influential delivery role for an experienced procurement professional who can turn data and business needs into practical action. Based at Wesley Place Corporate Head Office, the position offers broad organisational exposure without direct people leadership responsibilities.

• Develop and deliver category strategies aligned with organisational priorities, demand and market conditions
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including market analysis, tenders, evaluation, negotiation and contract award
• Manage the full contract lifecycle, from formation and implementation through to renewal, performance management and exit
• Establish supplier scorecards, lead performance reviews and resolve commercial or service issues before they affect operations
• Use spend analytics and market intelligence to identify savings, cost avoidance, risk reduction and service improvement opportunities
• Increase purchasing through preferred suppliers and catalogues while reducing off-contract spend and unmanaged contract expiries
• Partner with care, clinical and operational leaders to ensure goods and services support safe, effective and person-centred care
• Full time, Monday to Friday with hybrid working options available

What You'll Bring

• Tertiary qualification in business, commerce, supply chain or a related discipline, or equivalent procurement experience
• Demonstratable category management and strategic sourcing experience across multiple spend areas
• A record of delivering verified savings, cost avoidance or broader value against clear baselines
• End-to-end ownership of complex tenders, evaluations, negotiations and contract awards
• Experience managing supplier performance through KPIs, scorecards, reviews and remediation plans
• Strong contract lifecycle capability, including renewals, compliance, performance and supplier exits
• Evidence of using spend data, market insight and demand analysis to improve commercial decisions
• Credibility influencing senior leaders and frontline stakeholders without relying on direct authority
• Experience in aged care, health, human services, not-for-profit or another regulated setting is highly regarded

Essentials for working in Aged Care:

• A current Working With Children check
• Current and ongoing flu vaccinations
• Australian working rights
• Ability to pass a national police clearance or NDIS check

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply for this role.

Applications close Sunday 13th September.

You can access the position description here: Category Manager (Procurement) PD

For more information please contact the Recruitment Team at [e-mail]

We look forward to hearing from you!