Director, Procurement

State Government of Victoria, Australia; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 160,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

State Government of Victoria, Australia is seeking a high-calibre Director of Procurement within the Department of Education’s Procurement Division in Melbourne. The role leads strategic procurement, category management and supplier engagement to deliver value, integrity and high standards across the department and schools.

You'll report to the Executive Director Procurement, provide expert advice, lead a team of procurement professionals and drive improvement, risk management and performance

Qualifications

• Significant senior experience in procurement, strategic sourcing and category management.
• Strong commercial acumen, including financial, risk and resource management capability.
• Demonstrated expertise in procurement policy, probity, accountability and value for money principles.
• Proven ability to lead complex procurement programs and contract management activities.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation and influencing skills.
• A collaborative and adaptable leadership style, with the ability to lead change and develop others.
• Outstanding conceptual, analytical and problem-solving capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of procurement strategies, sourcing approaches and category management plans.
• Oversee complex procurement and contract management activities, ensuring compliance with departmental policy and public sector procurement principles.
• Provide high-level commercial advice and strategic recommendations to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Lead procurement planning, activity reporting, benefits realisation, briefings and submissions.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, other government agencies and Victorian Government schools.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation and change in procurement practices and service delivery.
• Manage procurement risks, budgets, resources and performance to achieve business and government objectives.
• Lead, develop and motivate a high-performing team of procurement professionals.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation

Leadership

Analytical/problem-solving

Job description

Occupation: Accounting, finance and procurement

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/DE/FPIS/1947617

Director, Procurement

About the Department

The Department of Education is responsible for early childhood and school education in Victoria. This is through a wide range of learning and development services and support. Procurement Division's purpose is to support and empower the department and schools to acquire services and resources to deliver great educational outcomes for Victorian children and young people.

What You'll Be Doing

We are seeking a high-calibre procurement leader for a Director, Procurement role responsible for leading strategic procurement outcomes across the department and schools. Reporting to the Executive Director Procurement (Chief Procurement Officer), you'll provide strategic direction, expert advice and people leadership across procurement, sourcing, category management and stakeholder engagement. You'll work closely with senior leaders across the department and schools to deliver high-quality procurement outcomes with integrity, impartiality and a strong customer focus.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Lead the development and delivery of procurement strategies, sourcing approaches and category management plans
• Oversee complex procurement and contract management activities, ensuring compliance with departmental policy and public sector procurement principles
• Provide high-level commercial advice and strategic recommendations to senior leaders and stakeholders
• Lead procurement planning, activity reporting, benefits realisation, briefings and submissions
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, other government agencies and, where relevant, Victorian Government schools
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation and change in procurement practices and service delivery
• Manage procurement risks, budgets, resources and performance to achieve business and government objectives
• Lead, develop and motivate a high-performing team of procurement professionals

Occasional travel to regional Victoria is required.

What You'll Bring

• Significant senior experience in procurement, strategic sourcing and category management
• Strong commercial acumen, including financial, risk and resource management capability
• Demonstrated expertise in procurement policy, probity, accountability and value for money principles
• Proven ability to lead complex procurement programs and contract management activities
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation and influencing skills
• A collaborative and adaptable leadership style, with the ability to lead change and develop others
• Outstanding conceptual, analytical and problem-solving capability

Further Information

For more details regarding this position, please refer to the position description for the capabilities to address in application.

If you have further questions, please contact Sandy Carveth on 0427 954 266 or [e-mail] for a confidential discussion.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au .

The Department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions, visit our website.

Pr eferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

If you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the advertisement or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g. large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements, please get in touch with the contact person listed on this advertisement.

Applications close 11:59 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday 30 September 2026