Manager – Procurement & Contracts

Mount Isa Water Board; Mount Isa City; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% superannuation

Permanent full-time role

Standard Monday to Friday

Job summary

Mount Isa Water Board is seeking an experienced procurement and contracts professional to lead high-value procurement activities across engineering, construction, and major equipment categories. The role includes one direct report and oversees the full lifecycle from planning to contract performance.

Reporting to the General Manager – Corporate & Governance, you will ensure value-for-money, compliance, and delivery of strategic objectives while mentoring the Procurement Officer and coordinating

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex procurement within infrastructure or utilities.
• Ability to develop procurement strategies for high-value projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication for governance and reports.

Responsibilities

• Prepare procurement work packages for complex, high-value purchases.
• Develop and execute procurement strategies based on risk and value.
• Manage market and supplier engagement including tenders.
• Lead tender evaluations and prepare matrices, reports and recommendations.
• Negotiate commercial terms to achieve value-for-money outcomes.
• Prepare contract management plans and handover to owners.
• Maintain procurement records and the Contracts Register.
• Mentor the Procurement Officer and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Contract management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Governance & compliance

Mentoring

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Law or Commerce

Job description

Mount Isa Water Board (MIWB) is seeking an experienced procurement and contracts professional to lead high-value and complex procurement activities across the organisation and manage MIWB's procurement function, including one direct report.

Reporting to the General Manager – Corporate & Governance, this role leads procurement across engineering, construction, technical services and major equipment categories — overseeing the procurement lifecycle from planning and market engagement through to evaluation, negotiation, contract award and ongoing contract performance.

About the role

This role is central to ensuring MIWB achieves value-for-money outcomes, maintains compliance with applicable procurement and governance requirements, and delivers on its operational and strategic objectives.

You will work closely with stakeholders across the organisation to understand upcoming requirements, develop appropriate procurement strategies and maintain a forward procurement pipeline. You will also provide day-to-day leadership, guidance and mentoring to the Procurement Officer as your direct report.

Key responsibilities include:

• preparing procurement work packages for complex and high-value purchases, including tender specifications, user requirements and tender documentation
• developing and executing procurement strategies appropriate to the complexity, risk and value of each procurement
• managing market and supplier engagement, including tender advertisement, supplier queries and supplier information sessions
• leading tender evaluations and preparing evaluation matrices, reports and recommendations, while ensuring fairness, probity and transparency throughout the process
• negotiating commercial terms and conditions with suppliers to achieve value-for-money outcomes while maintaining effective supplier relationships
• preparing contract management plans and KPIs and facilitating the effective handover of awarded contracts to business owners
• maintaining accurate and timely procurement and contract records, including the Contracts Register
• supporting business stakeholders with contract performance reviews, supplier issues and risk mitigation
• engaging proactively with other divisions to identify future procurement requirements and maintain MIWB's procurement pipeline
• providing insights and recommendations on procurement trends, market conditions, supplier performance and cost optimisation opportunities
• driving continuous improvement through the standardisation, simplification and automation of procurement processes and workflows
• leading and mentoring the Procurement Officer as a direct report and modelling Team Leader behaviours under the Leadership Competencies for Queensland.

About you

You will be an experienced procurement and contracts professional with strong commercial judgement, exceptional attention to detail and demonstrated experience leading complex procurement activities within an infrastructure, utilities or similarly regulated environment.

The successful candidate will ideally bring:

• a Bachelor's degree in Business, Law, Commerce or a related field
• substantial experience in procurement and/or contract management, including responsibility for procuring construction services, engineering services and major equipment within an infrastructure or utilities environment
• demonstrated experience independently managing complex and high-value procurement processes from planning and market engagement through evaluation, negotiation and contract award
• extensive knowledge of commercial contracts and demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing and evaluating contractual terms and conditions
• sound knowledge of procurement and contract management requirements applicable within the Queensland public sector
• highly advanced written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare procurement documentation, correspondence, contracts, reports and recommendations autonomously
• proven ability to build strong internal and external stakeholder relationships and manage commercial relationships with vendors to achieve value-for-money outcomes
• highly advanced negotiation skills, including demonstrated experience autonomously negotiating commercial terms and conditions with vendors
• demonstrated ability to lead, mentor and develop staff.

This is an opportunity to lead procurement for essential infrastructure projects that directly support the liveability and economy of the Mount Isa region. You'll shape procurement strategy and supplier relationships across engineering, construction and major equipment categories, with one direct report and genuine influence over how MIWB delivers value-for-money outcomes.

Remuneration and benefits

• $140,000 – $170,000 per year
• 12% superannuation
• Permanent full-time role
• Standard Monday to Friday work arrangement

Conditions of appointment

Appointment is subject to:

• a satisfactory National Police Check (NPC)
• confirmation of Australian Working Entitlements (citizenship or permanent resident status only)
• verification of qualifications and professional memberships (if applicable).