Category Manager

Jobtailor; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Melbourne, Australia is seeking an experienced Procurement and Strategic Sourcing professional to lead supplier relationships, develop category strategies, and drive value across complex projects. You will manage RFIs/RFQs, negotiate contracts up to high spend, coordinate with internal stakeholders, and ensure governance in a large organisation with Defence clearance requirements.

This role requires a technical or business degree, 5+ years in procurement, and proven ability to

Qualifications

• Technical/Engineering/Business degree or equivalent
• 5+ years Procurement/Strategic Sourcing experience preferred
• Experience in Procurement, Contract Management or Commercial roles
• Experience in complex project environments
• Experience in large organisations with multiple management levels
• Contract spend management up to $50M per annum
• Ability to build strong stakeholder relationships and influence decisions
• Professional accreditation (CIPS, EIPM, RICS or equivalent) preferred
• Strong proficiency with IT productivity tools (Office, Excel)
• Security clearance for Defence is required; Australian citizenship needed

Responsibilities

• Manage the suppliers’ portfolio and develop category strategies meeting regional and global objectives
• Source, assess and qualify potential suppliers
• Collate and optimise demand
• Set up contractual agreements and analyse Spend Management
• Lead tendering via RFI/RFQ sourcing processes
• Create RFQ packages and review supplier responses with recommendations
• Identify risks and opportunities and influence design/specifications for savings
• Propose negotiation strategies and lead negotiations
• Coordinate final decisions and execute procurement contracts
• Support supply chain by managing supplier performance and stakeholder engagement
• Review quotes and proposals to optimise purchases through consolidation

Skills

Category Strategy Development

Spend Management Analysis

RFI/RFQ Sourcing Processes

Risk Identification

Supplier Assessment

Contract Negotiation

Project Management

Cost Optimization

Education

Technical/Engineering/Business degree

CIPS Certification

EIPM Certification

RICS Certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Job description

• Manage the suppliers’ portfolio by developing a category strategy that meets regional and global business objectives
• Source, assess and qualify potential suppliers
• Collate and optimise demand
• Set up contractual agreements and analyse and report on Spend Management
• Lead tendering through disciplined RFI/RFQ sourcing processes
• Create RFQ packages, release them to market, review supplier responses and provide recommendations
• Identify risks and opportunities
• Influence design and/or specifications to generate additional savings
• Propose negotiation strategies and lead negotiations
• Coordinate final decisions and execute procurement contracts
• Support the supply chain process by managing supplier performance and key project stakeholders
• Review and analyse supplier quotes and proposals, assess timeframes and risks, and optimise purchased items through consolidation

Requirements

• Technical/Engineering/Business degree and/or demonstrated experience in a relevant discipline
• Ideally have 5+ years Procurement experience or Strategic Sourcing
• Experience in Procurement, Contract Management or Commercial experience
• Experience working in a complex Project environment
• Experience working within a large organisation and dealing with all levels of management
• Experience in negotiating and managing contract spends of up to $50M per annum
• Ability to develop strong relationship with internal stakeholders and influence decisions
• Recognised professional accreditation (CIPS, EIPM, RICS or equivalent
• Strong skill base in IT productivity tools such as Office and Excel
• High levels of responsiveness and internal customer focus
• A Defence security clearance is required for this role
• Applicants must be Australian citizens and eligible to obtain and maintain an appropriate clearance
• The Australian Defence Trade Controls Act (DTCA) applies; nationality may be a factor in determining suitability

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in Procurement and Strategic Sourcing, with a strong focus on contract management, supplier performance, and stakeholder engagement. Proven ability to negotiate high-value contracts and develop effective category strategies aligned with business objectives.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Procurement Experience
• Contract Management
• Strategic Sourcing
• Negotiation Skills
• Supplier Performance Management

Hard Skills

• Category Strategy Development
• Spend Management Analysis
• RFI/RFQ Sourcing Processes
• Risk Identification
• Supplier Assessment
• Contract Negotiation
• Project Management
• Cost Optimization

Soft Skills

• Relationship Building
• Influencing Decisions
• Customer Focus
• Responsiveness

Certifications & Qualifications

• CIPS
• EIPM
• RICS

Industry Keywords

• Defence Security Clearance
• Australian Defence Trade Controls Act
• Complex Project Environment
• Large Organisation Experience

Tools & Technologies

• IT Productivity Tools
• Microsoft Office
• Excel