Category Manager- Technology Workforce

Coles Group; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Gym facility

Free parking

BBQ area

Mini-Coles supermarket

Coles Fooderie hub sample events

School holiday program

Job summary

The Coles Group is seeking a Category Manager - Technology Workforce to lead strategic sourcing and commercial negotiations across technology consulting, professional services and workforce arrangements. You will partner with Technology leaders and suppliers to challenge approaches, identify opportunities and deliver value that supports Coles teams and customers.

You will develop category strategies, manage supplier relationships, and lead RFPs, tendering and complex negotiations to achieve

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in technology procurement, category management or third‑party workforce services within a complex organisation.
• Proven ability to develop and execute category strategies across complex services portfolios, delivering measurable commercial value.
• Strong supplier relationship management experience, including managing strategic technology partners, supplier performance and commercial negotiations.
• Experience leading competitive sourcing processes, including RFPs, tendering, supplier evaluations and contract negotiations.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to constructively challenge senior Technology leaders, prioritise competing demands and deliver results.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies across complex technology services portfolios, aligning sourcing decisions with business priorities.
• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, driving performance, accountability and long-term value.
• Lead competitive sourcing processes, including requests for proposal (RFPs), supplier evaluations, tendering and complex commercial negotiations.
• Partner with senior Technology stakeholders, constructively challenging supplier selection, demand, scope and commercial decisions to achieve better outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to optimise costs, resource models, supplier performance and commercial arrangements across the enterprise.
• Balance competing priorities and manage multiple sourcing initiatives, delivering outcomes at pace while maintaining strong commercial governance.

Skills

Technology procurement

Category management

Third‑party workforce

Influencing skills

Stakeholder management

Job description

We’ve been proudly serving Australian communities since 1914 and have grown to become a top 30-listed company on the ASX with a portfolio of iconic homegrown brands. At the heart of our continued success is over 115,000 team members working across the country, all contributing to bringing our customers smiles. You’ll not only get to see your work make a difference, you’ll be part of a team working together to help Australians eat and live better every day.

About the team

Procurement supplies solutions. Coles Group is a top 30-listed ASX company with diverse needs from thousands of suppliers. Our team specialises in reducing cost and risk across our supply base. We partner with all areas of the business to develop and execute sourcing and contracting strategies that innovatively deliver sustainable value to our customers.

About the role

As the Category Manager - Technology Workforce you will be support an integral part of our our Procurement team and shape how we partner with technology suppliers across Coles Group. You'll lead strategic sourcing and commercial negotiations across technology consulting, professional services and workforce arrangements, with a strong focus on managing key supplier relationships. Working closely with Technology leaders and suppliers, you'll challenge existing approaches, identify opportunities and deliver commercial value that supports our teams and customers. You will also:

• Develop and execute category strategies across complex technology services portfolios, aligning sourcing decisions with business priorities.
• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, driving performance, accountability and long-term value.
• Lead competitive sourcing processes, including requests for proposal (RFPs), supplier evaluations, tendering and complex commercial negotiations.
• Partner with senior Technology stakeholders, constructively challenging supplier selection, demand, scope and commercial decisions to achieve better outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to optimise costs, resource models, supplier performance and commercial arrangements across the enterprise.
• Balance competing priorities and manage multiple sourcing initiatives, delivering outcomes at pace while maintaining strong commercial governance.|

About you and your skills

You're a commercially minded procurement professional who knows how to build strong supplier relationships while confidently challenging decisions to achieve better outcomes. You bring experience across technology services or workforce categories, strong influencing skills and the ability to work collaboratively with senior stakeholders in a fast-paced environment. You will have:

• Demonstrated experience in technology procurement, category management or third-party workforce services within a complex organisation.
• Proven ability to develop and execute category strategies across complex services portfolios, delivering measurable commercial value.
• Strong supplier relationship management experience, including managing strategic technology partners, supplier performance and commercial negotiations.
• Experience leading competitive sourcing processes, including RFPs, tendering, supplier evaluations and contract negotiations.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to constructively challenge senior Technology leaders, prioritise competing demands and deliver results.

What’s in it for you?

• Flexible working options: We know that work is only one part of your life, so we actively encourage a positive work-life balance and provide hybrid working options to help you achieve it.
• Office perks: Take advantage of our gym facility and fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini-Coles supermarket, fooderie hub where you can sample new products before they hit the shelves, school holiday program and so much more when you come in.
• Discounts: Eligible team members receive 5% discount all year round on your Supermarket and Liquor online and in-store purchases. We also offer additional periods of double discount (10%) at various times throughout the year. As well as hotdeals exclusive to team members that translate into additional savings.
• Reward through recognition: Give and receive recognition, linked to our Coles values, through our digital recognition platform ‘mythanks’. You can accumulate points to redeem in the online shop for exciting gifts and electronic gift cards from an extensive range of retailers.
• Opportunities for learning and development: No matter where you start within our diverse business, you’ll have experiences, exposure, and education to satisfy you. Discover and explore a variety of career development programs and job-specific training.
• Paid parental leave: We understand how important your life outside work is and offer permanent team members paid parental leave to support you in balancing work and family.
• Investment in your future: Our annual team member share plan offer allows eligible team members to make regular pre-tax salary sacrifice deductions to purchase Coles Group shares.

About the recruitment process

We’re continuing to build a gender equitable team, and a culture that is just as diverse, inclusive and welcoming as the communities we serve. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe and respectful for our team. We encourage applications from people of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities.

We’re happy to adjust our recruitment process to support candidates with disability. For further information and additional contact details visit the ‘Our Recruitment Process’ section of our careers site or email [e-mail]

Employment Type:Full time