Procurement & SC Governance, Insight and Process Excellence

Downer Group; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Downer Group is seeking a Manager Procurement & Supply Chain Governance, Insights and Process Excellence to drive AI-enabled transformation and governance across procurement and supply chain. You will translate complex data into actionable insights, improve cost visibility, risk management and supplier performance, and lead capability-building across multiple functions.

This role emphasizes governance rhythms, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration, with travel to sites and regional

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement, supply chain, governance and performance reporting.
• Ability to translate data into executive insights and business cases.
• Exposure to ERP systems and enterprise reporting environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformation and process excellence by identifying root causes, simplifying ways of working and embedding practical improvements that reduce rework and strengthen operational performance.
• Drive AI-enabled improvement across Procurement and Supply Chain, translating tools, connected data and automation opportunities into meaningful business outcomes.
• Create decision-ready insight from procurement, supplier, spend, inventory and operational data for senior leaders.
• Strengthen governance and accountability through reporting cycles, leadership reviews, performance measures and follow-up of actions.
• Build engagement and capability by partnering across functions, facilitating training and adoption of new systems and reporting practices.
• Maintain governance frameworks for purchasing controls, approvals, delegations and compliance requirements.

Skills

Procurement

Supply chain

Governance

Data analytics

Stakeholder leadership

Tools

JDE

Maximo

SAP

Job description

Opportunity Summary

Shape smarter Procurement & Supply Chain outcomes through AI, data insights, governance and continuous improvement.

The Opportunity

Join Downer Rail & Transit Systems in a high-impact role leading AI-enabled transformation, governance and business improvement across Procurement and Supply Chain, turning complex operational data into actionable insights and sustainable performance outcomes.

As the Manager Procurement & Supply Chain Governance, Insights and Process Excellence, you will lead a broad transformation agenda spanning artificial intelligence, governance, reporting, data quality and continuous improvement. You will bring together information held across multiple business systems and turn it into meaningful insights that improve cost visibility, risk management, supplier performance and operational decision-making.

This is not simply a reporting or dashboard role. Your impact will come from influencing leaders, building capability and helping teams adopt more consistent and effective ways of working. You will establish the governance rhythm, drive accountability for actions and ensure that new tools and processes translate into measurable business value.

Working with Procurement, Supply Chain, Operations, Projects, Finance, Engineering, Maintenance, IT and business systems specialists, you will connect operational challenges with practical technology, process and data solutions.

The role is preferably based in North Ryde, with Brisbane also considered. Planned travel to operational sites will support stakeholder engagement, training and the adoption of improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead transformation and process excellence by identifying root causes, simplifying ways of working and embedding practical improvements that reduce rework and strengthen operational performance.
• Drive AI-enabled improvement across Procurement and Supply Chain, working with technical specialists to translate emerging tools, connected data and automation opportunities into meaningful business outcomes.
• Create decision-ready insight from procurement, supplier, spend, inventory and operational data, providing senior leaders with clear visibility of performance, risks and improvement priorities.
• Strengthen governance and accountability through effective reporting cycles, leadership reviews, performance measures and disciplined follow-up of critical actions.
• Build engagement and capability by partnering across functions, facilitating training and helping teams confidently adopt new systems, reporting practices and ways of working.
• Maintain governance frameworks for purchasing controls, approvals, delegations and compliance requirements, ensuring risks are identified, visible and appropriately managed.

What You Bring

• Demonstrated capability in procurement, supply chain, business improvement, governance, operational reporting.
• AI and digital enablement: You'll use your procurement, supply chain and improvement expertise to help shape the right AI solutions and turn emerging technology into smarter, more efficient ways of working.
• Experience in Rail, Oil & Gas, Mining, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Automotive is highly sought after.
• Strong data and analytical capability, with experience translating complex information into executive-level insights, recommendations and business cases.
• Practical exposure to ERP, asset management or enterprise reporting environments. Experience with JDE, Maximo or SAP would be valuable, although the ability to understand and connect business processes across systems is more important than experience with one particular platform.
• The ability to combine technical curiosity with strong stakeholder leadership, influencing people to use the insights, processes and tools you help develop.
• A change-oriented and commercially aware approach, with the communication, facilitation and coaching capability to build momentum across geographically dispersed teams. Experience gained in consulting, continuous improvement or business transformation environments will be highly regarded.

About Downer

Your role at Downer can make the difference that matters by delivering integrated rail & transit systems that connect people, power freight and strengthen Australia's rail capability.

With more than 150 years' rail experience providing end-to-end, innovative transport solutions, we are a leading provider of rollingstock asset management services.

We are experts in delivering whole-of-life asset management support to our customers and our capability allows us to offer turnkey solutions for complex projects, across every project phase.

You want your work to matter and so do we. With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas.

We know that diversity makes us stronger and we actively celebrate it through our commitment to inclusion and belonging.

We're committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals.

Even if your experience doesn't align perfectly with this role, we'd still like to hear from you.

We're a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it.

If you need support or adjustments through the recruitment process, just let us know. We're here to help you put your best foot forward.