Procurement Category Manager - Automation Projects

The Coles Group; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Gym facility & fitness classes

Free parking

BBQ area

Mini-Coles supermarket

Job summary

The Coles Group in Melbourne is seeking a Procurement Category Manager for Automation Projects to lead large-scale capital and automation initiatives. You will drive commercial outcomes, manage contracts, costs, risks and delivery milestones, and partner with project teams and suppliers to achieve objectives.

You will bring strong project management, contract management, and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience across retail, logistics or automation.

Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale capital/automation projects.
• Proven capability in cost control, forecasting and supplier performance.
• Strong governance and delivery methodology knowledge, including Agile.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication across teams and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of major capital and automation projects, aligning outcomes with budgets and timelines.
• Manage contracts and supplier obligations to protect value and enable delivery.
• Monitor costs, forecasts, milestones and governance, identifying risks and driving solutions.
• Track project benefits and financial performance to demonstrate value.
• Collaborate with project teams and suppliers through implementation and handover.
• Build relationships to improve processes, resources and supplier performance.

Skills

Project management

Commercial judgement

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Agile

Job description

Procurement Category Manager - Automation Projects

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

We're looking for a Procurement Category Manager -Automation Projects to join our team and play a key role in delivering large-scale capital and automation projects. You'll bring strong project management and commercial expertise to help manage contracts, costs, risks and delivery milestones, ensuring projects achieve their business objectives. You will also:

• Support the delivery of major capital and automation projects, ensuring commercial outcomes align with project objectives, budgets and timelines.
• Manage complex contracts, supplier obligations, negotiations and commercial agreements to protect value and support successful delivery.
• Monitor project costs, forecasts, milestones and governance, identifying risks early and driving practical solutions.
• Track project benefits, financial performance and cost efficiencies to demonstrate value and support informed business decisions.
• Partner with project teams and suppliers throughout implementation, installation and operational handover to support delivery.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships and identify opportunities to improve processes, materials, resourcing and supplier performance.

About you and your skills

You're an experienced Project Manager or commercially focused procurement professional who knows how to navigate complex, high-value projects while keeping costs, contracts and delivery on track. You'll bring a collaborative approach, strong commercial judgement and the confidence to work with diverse stakeholders to achieve great outcomes together. You will have:

• Strong project management experience, including involvement in large-scale projects, ideally across retail, logistics, construction, infrastructure or automation.
• Proven commercial and contract management capability, including cost control, forecasting, negotiations, risk management and supplier performance.
• Experience supporting complex project delivery, including implementation, installation, milestone management and operational handover.
• Sound knowledge of project governance, program management principles and delivery methodologies, including Agile.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and analytical skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build effective relationships across project teams and suppliers.

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 ***************@coles.com.au

Job ID:199778

Employment Type:Full time