Principal Category Manager

BaptistCare NSW & ACT; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

BaptistCare NSW & ACT is seeking a Principal Category Manager to provide strategic leadership of our national category management function. Based at Norwest, NSW, this senior role directs category strategy, sourcing programs and supplier performance across technology, property, construction, and clinical expenditures.

You will lead the category management team, partnering with executives to drive governance, risk management and commercial value at scale, with interstate travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in procurement, supply chain, business, commerce, finance or a related discipline.
• Professional procurement qualification such as CIPS or equivalent.
• Minimum seven years’ category management or strategic procurement experience within a large/complex organisation.
• Demonstrated leadership of category management or procurement teams and ability to set direction.
• Experience across a broad category portfolio including technology, property, services and clinical expenditure.

Responsibilities

• Lead and shape BaptistCare’s national category management function.
• Set direction for category strategies, sourcing programs, supplier performance and value realization.
• Oversee governance, risk and benefits realization across categories.
• Partner with executive and senior leaders to drive procurement as a strategic enablement.

Skills

Strategic procurement

Category management

Negotiation

Leadership

Analytical skills

Supplier management

Education

Tertiary qualification in procurement/supply chain

CIPS or equivalent

Job description

• Permanent fulltime opportunity | Based at Norwest, NSW
• Offering hybrid/flexible work arrangements with national impact
• Lead and shape category management capability across BaptistCare

About the role:

BaptistCare is seeking an experienced Principal Category Manager to provide strategic leadership of our national category management function. Reporting to the Head of Procurement, you will set the direction for category management across the organisation, translating business priorities into category strategies, sourcing programs, supplier performance outcomes and measurable commercial value. As this is a national role, occasional interstate travel may be required.

This senior leadership role will build and mature BaptistCare’s category management approach across a broad portfolio, including technology, property and construction, business services, clinical expenditure and supplier performance. You will lead the category management team, establish consistent practices and strengthen procurement capability across the organisation.

Partnering with executive, operational and corporate leaders, you will lead complex sourcing, negotiation and contracting initiatives, influence significant third‑party expenditure and champion procurement as an enabler of sound commercial decision‑making. You will also oversee supplier performance, benefits realisation, governance and risk.

About you:

• Tertiary qualification in procurement, supply chain, business, commerce, finance or a related discipline, or significant relevant industry experience.
• Professional procurement qualification such as CIPS or equivalent.
• Minimum seven years’ category management, strategic procurement or commercial management experience within a large and/or complex organisation.
• Demonstrated leadership of category management or procurement teams, with the ability to set direction, build capability and support strong performance.
• Experience across a broad category portfolio, which may include technology, property and construction, services, business services, clinical expenditure and supplier performance management.
• Demonstrated success establishing, transforming or significantly maturing a category management function, operating model or procurement capability.
• Advanced category strategy, strategic sourcing, commercial negotiation and contracting capability, including complex or high‑value arrangements.
• Experience managing substantial third‑party expenditure and operating effectively at significant organisational scale.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing and relationship‑building skills, with the confidence to partner with executive and senior leaders and advocate for procurement and category management.
• Strong experience managing strategic suppliers, supplier performance, commercial risk and benefits realisation.
• Excellent analytical, written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex commercial matters into clear advice and recommendations.
• Demonstrated commitment to BaptistCare’s values, reflected in a respectful, collaborative and values‑aligned approach to leadership and working relationships.

Highly regarded:

• Experience in aged care, healthcare, disability, community services, not‑for‑profit or another highly regulated service environment.
• Experience leading national procurement portfolios and supporting major transformation or integration programmes.
• Experience establishing or significantly maturing supplier performance frameworks and procurement governance.

If you are a commercially astute and influential procurement leader who can build capability, shape enterprise‑wide category strategy and deliver sustainable value at scale, we would love to hear from you.

About Us:

BaptistCare is a leading purpose‑led care organisation, guided by our Christian identity and serving people and communities across Australia for more than 110 years. We support people to live better through aged care, home care, retirement living, community services, disability support and housing.

We know that life’s challenges can make our world feel smaller. With the right people alongside us, it can feel more connected, supported and hopeful again.

That’s what we work towards every day - enriching lives through communities of care. Today, more than 70,000 customers, 12,000 employees and close to 2,000 volunteers are part of our communities across Australia.

Successful applications will be subject to a variety of background checks including a police background check via our online police check system.

BaptistCare – Inspired by Jesus to champion care for all.