Category Manager

Qantas Airways; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted travel

Flexible leave

Salary packaging

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

Qantas Airways is seeking a Category Manager to shape and execute Fuel procurement strategies across the group, delivering value in the short and long term. You will lead sourcing and negotiations, manage internal and supplier relationships, and secure approvals and contract execution to support cost-effective fuel supply.

The role requires advanced negotiation, commercial acumen, and strong stakeholder engagement across all levels.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience within the Fuel Industry, Strategic Sourcing or Airline Industry.
• Tertiary qualifications in Finance, Commerce, Business or Procurement.
• Accreditation from Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of sourcing and negotiation activity for Fuel procurement.
• Manage and maintain key Supplier and internal stakeholders.
• Communicate outcomes, secure approvals and contracts execution.
• Demonstrate strong negotiation, commercial acumen and stakeholder engagement across levels.

Skills

Strategic Sourcing

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Finance/Commerce/Business or Procurement qualification

Job description

• Challenge yourself to execute and help shape strategic sourcing solutions to mitigate commercial and operational risk and drive significant value across one of Qantas’ largest cost- Fuel
• Category Manager role available in our Fuel Supply Chain Procurement team
• Permanent Full-time opportunity based at our Sydney or Melbourne office

Our ability to stand the test of time has been no coincidence. We’ve come this far because we continue to evolve. It’s a challenge that never ends and drives every individual in our team to make tomorrow better than today for our customers.

Driving sustainability, our procurement and supply chain function meet the demands of the Qantas Group’s diverse portfolio, while maximising the value from our supplier related expenditure.

Group Procurement is responsible for the sourcing and ongoing commercial relationships of our suppliers including leading or supporting RFPs, supplier negotiations, contract development, contract reviews and contract executions.

Fuel procurement is responsible for leading key sourcing activities across the Qantas Group airlines covering all domestic and international fuel requirements (300+ locations).

Driving and managing supplier and internal relationships, Fuel procurement is responsible for the end-to-end procurement of Fuel to ensure the most cost-effective outcomes are achieved.

As the Category Manager your role will help shape strategic strategies for Fuel procurement to deliver value in the short, medium and longer term. You will also be responsible for the execution of those strategies and associated approvals and contracts execution. A key component of your role will also be managing and maintaining key Supplier and internal stakeholders. This will require advanced negotiation expertise as well as excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement capabilities.

As the Category Manager, you will lead the execution of sourcing and negotiation activity for Fuel procurement, contributing to category strategy set by the Portfolio Manager and delivering value in the short, medium and longer term. You will also be responsible for communicating outcomes, securing associated approvals and contracts execution.

A key component of your role will be managing and maintaining key stakeholder relationships both internal and supplier facing. This will require strong negotiation expertise, commercial acumen as well as excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement capabilities.

You’ll Have

• 5+ years’ experience within the Fuel Industry, Strategic Sourcing or Airline Industry
• Tertiary qualifications in Finance, Commerce, Business or Procurement
• Accreditation from Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply desirable
• Advanced influencing, communication and negotiation skills, demonstrating the ability to influence and build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels
• Commercially focused with the ability to correctly assess the impact of decisions on business outcomes
• Experience in leading sourcing activities as a procurement specialist or similar strategic sourcing role
• Experience working within or supporting commercial and operational environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with ability to resolve complex issues
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including natural adaptability across seniority levels, cultures and global borders
• Proven track record of achieving KPI targets

Why Qantas?

You’ll join a team where creativity and passion are encouraged. Our people come together to allow us to dream big and deliver successfully.

There are many different opportunities across our team, which means you’ll be able to grow both personally and professionally at Qantas. Your development is a priority for us – so that you can maintain the high standards our customers have come to expect and can continue to develop over time. You’ll be supported from day 1 with on the job training and coaching as well as our formal training opportunities. While you may start in this role, we’ve got a great track record of supporting our people to take their career in so many different directions, the destinations are endless.

The Qantas employee benefits program offers amazing benefits that extend well beyond travel.

We love to travel:

Enjoy heavily discounted air travel within Australia and across the globe, both for you and your family and friends, as well as exclusive deals on accommodation and holidays.

We have flexible leave options:

Make use of leave and flexible working opportunities including 18 weeks paid parental leave (plus superannuation payments on all paid and unpaid parental leave until your child turns 1) and additional purchased leave options for eligible employees.

We’ll give you access to thousands of rewards:

Through our partnerships we can offer you discounts across shopping, food and wine, insurance, health and wellbeing, leisure and entertainment. You can also take advantage of our salary packaging program including motor vehicles, eligible portable electronic devices and professional memberships.

We’ll support your wellbeing:

Whether it’s learning to better support your own and others’ mental health, our interactive wellbeing app or your very own tailored nutrition plan.

Applications close: Wednesday 30th October 2026.