Isit Category Manager

Thales Group; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Hybrid work environment

Fitness Passport discount

Employee discounts

Paid parental leave

Novated Lease options

Training and development opportunities

Wellbeing & Support Partner

Job summary

Thales Australia is seeking a procurement professional to join our corporate team. You will manage supplier portfolios, develop category strategies and drive the tendering process to secure value across regions.

With 5+ years in procurement or strategic sourcing, you will influence decisions, negotiate contracts, and ensure Spend Management excellence while navigating complex projects in a large organisation. Australian citizenship and defence clearance eligibility are required.

Qualifications

• Technical/Engineering/Business degree in a relevant discipline.
• 5+ years of Procurement or Strategic Sourcing experience.
• Experience in Procurement, Contract Management or Commercial roles.
• Experience in large, complex projects and stakeholder influence.
• Professional accreditation (CIPS, EIPM, RICS or equivalent) preferred.
• Strong IT productivity skills (Office, Excel).
• Australian citizen eligible for Defence clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop a category strategy for suppliers aligned to regional and global objectives.
• Source, assess and qualify potential suppliers; consolidate demand.
• Set up contracts and report on Spend Management.
• Lead the tendering process with disciplined RFIs/RFQs.
• Manage RFQ packages, evaluate responses, and provide recommendations.
• Identify risks and opportunities; influence design/specifications for savings.
• Propose negotiation strategies and lead negotiations.
• Coordinate final decisions and execute procurement contracts.
• Support supply chain by monitoring supplier performance and stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic Sourcing

Vendor Management

Stakeholder Management

Negotiation

Excel

Office Suite

Education

Engineering degree

Business degree

Tools

Office Suite

Excel

Job description

At Thales, we know technology has the ability to make our world more secure, sustainable, and inclusive – and that it’s all driven by human intelligence.

Because it takes human intelligence to build and power the systems and solutions that people depend on every day. So we stay curious and make space for diverse points of view. We share what we know and we challenge what’s possible.

From manufacturing and engineering to cybersecurity and space, we’re driving progress in some of the world’s most important industries – and working together to build a future we can all trust.

Our Benefits

• Competitive remuneration + super + annual bonus + private medical insurance
• Annualised performance review process
• ThalesFlex – Hybrid work environment
• Fitness Passport discount – Access to a network of gyms across AUS from $15 P/W
• Employee discounts with a number of affiliates (Travel, Car hire, Tech, Medical Insurance)
• Modernised Paid Parental Leave
• Veterans leave
• Novated Lease options
• Personal & professional training development opportunities
• Sonder – Wellbeing & Support Partner

Our Team

This role is part of our corporate team, a central hub for Thales Australia. It’s where our shared services – think finance, legal, HR, procurement – come together to make sure all teams across Australia have access to the business services they need. Cross-functional collaboration helps us build out Thales’ capabilities – and helps us open up new career opportunities for employees all across the business.

Your role

This role is part of the Procurement Operational process and involves interactions with suppliers, review and analysis of quotes and proposals from the suppliers, assessment of timeframes and associated risks, and optimisation of the purchased item through consolidation.

• Managing the suppliers’ portfolio by developing a category strategy, that meets the regional and global business objectives;
• Actively sourcing, assessing and qualifying potential suppliers;
• Collating and optimising the demand;
• Setting up contractual agreements and analysing and reporting on Spend Management
• Leading the tendering process by executing the sourcing strategy though a disciplined RFI/RFQ tendering process;
• Managing the RFQ process, which includes creation of RFQ package, release to market, review supplier responses, provide recommendations;
• Identifying risks and opportunities;
• Influencing the design and/ or specification to generate additional savings;
• Proposing a negotiation strategy and lead the negotiation;
• Coordinating closure on the final decision and executing the procurement contract
• Supporting the supply chain process by managing the suppliers’ performance and managing key project stakeholders

Your experience

To be successful in this role, you will have demonstrated and/or acquired the following knowledge and experience:

• 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.

Additional information with regards to clearances is available from the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency website http://www.defence.gov.au/AGSVA/. In some cases, individuals who hold a current clearance from a foreign government may be eligible to have this clearance recognised by the Australian Government and be eligible for this role. The Australian Defence Trade Controls Act (DTCA) is applicable and as such, your nationality may be a factor in determining your suitability for this role.

It’s easy to dismiss the perfect opportunity if you don’t see yourself as the perfect fit. If this role feels right – no matter your background or personal circumstances – please introduce yourself or join our community. We’re committed to supporting a diverse workplace, and that starts here.

We’re proud to be endorsed by WORK180 as an Employer for All Women, but we know there’s always more we can do. We’ll continue to foster industry partnerships, employee resource groups (ERGs) and development opportunities to make Thales a genuinely equitable employer, for everyone.

Read more about our WORK180 endorsement.