Senior Manager - Procurement Assurance

University of Sydney; Sydney; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Job summary

The University of Sydney is seeking a Senior Manager - Procurement Assurance to shape governance, assurance and continuous improvement across procurement. You will use data and insights to identify emerging risks, strengthen controls and improve procurement outcomes, partnering with senior leaders for informed, risk-based decisions.

This role leads audits, governance reporting and capability-building to streamline systems, simplify processes and uphold oversight while delivering service

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience.
• Experience leading procurement compliance, assurance, audit or risk within large organisations.
• Expertise in governance, policy, controls and risk-based decision making.
• History of building trusted partnerships and advising senior stakeholders.
• Analytical, problem solving and data driven risk identification skills.
• Strong leadership, communication and change management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement assurance framework with risk-based data insights.
• Provide authoritative advice on governance, policy, controls and assurance.
• Oversee responses to procurement audits, reviews and investigations.
• Lead governance reporting and secretariat services for key bodies.
• Develop procurement capability through training and guidance.
• Drive improvements to simplify processes and strengthen controls.

Skills

Procurement governance

Risk management

Data analytics

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Policy interpretation

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

• Shape the future of procurement at the University by leading assurance, governance and continuous improvement that makes buying easier, strengthens decision making and applies risk-commensurate controls
• Offering a competitive remuneration package including 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

This is an opportunity to shape how procurement works across the University. As Senior Manager - Procurement Assurance, you will set the direction for assurance, governance and continuous improvement, using data and insight to identify emerging risks, strengthen controls and improve procurement outcomes. You will work with senior leaders and stakeholders to provide authoritative advice, guide risk-based decision-making and lead governance, audit and reporting activities. Just as importantly, you will help us rethink how we work: removing unnecessary complexity, improving systems and processes, and building capability so that buying is easier for the University community while maintaining the right level of oversight. Through inclusive leadership and a strong service excellence mindset, you will turn assurance insights into practical, lasting improvement.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• lead the University's procurement assurance framework, applying risk-based and data-driven approaches to identify emerging risks, strengthen controls and focus assurance where it adds the greatest value
• provide authoritative advice on procurement governance, policy, controls and assurance, influencing senior stakeholders and enabling informed, risk-commensurate decision‑making
• lead the University's response to procurement audits, reviews, investigations and assurance activities, and oversee remediation to achieve sustainable compliance outcomes
• lead governance reporting and secretariat services for key procurement bodies, providing high‑quality analysis, papers and recommendations that support transparent and effective decision‑making
• build procurement capability through targeted training, guidance and awareness initiatives that improve understanding and support consistent practice across the University
• turn insight into action by leading improvement and change initiatives that simplify procurement, enhance systems and reporting, strengthen controls and make the stakeholder experience easier and more effective

About you

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent combination of training and professional experience
• significant experience leading procurement compliance, assurance, audit or risk management activities in a large and complex organisation
• strong expertise in governance, compliance frameworks, policy and legislative interpretation, risk management, audit and internal controls
• a track record of building trusted partnerships, presenting with credibility and providing authoritative advice that influences senior stakeholders
• advanced analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to use data to identify emerging risks, assess control effectiveness and guide informed decisions
• strong leadership, communication and organisational skills, with the energy and initiative to lead change, develop people and embed a culture of service excellence and continuous improvement

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre‑employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University's obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender‑Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender‑based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.