Senior Procurement & Category Specialist

Ambulance Victoria; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ambulance Victoria is seeking a Senior Procurement & Category Specialist to lead end-to-end procurement, tender and category management, delivering value and compliant processes within a Victorian Government framework. This full-time, ongoing role supports a hybrid work model with required presence at the Blackburn HQ.

The role reports to the Senior Manager Strategic Procurement and focuses on developing category strategies, supplier negotiations, risk management and governance across AV.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in strategic sourcing, procurement and category management.
• Knowledge of procurement governance, probity and value-for-money principles.
• Ability to lead complex procurement and sourcing projects with governance requirements.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
• Leadership through collaboration and influence.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end procurement, tender and sourcing activities with complex negotiations.
• Develop and implement category and sourcing strategies aligned to AV priorities.
• Provide trusted commercial and procurement advice to stakeholders to balance quality, risk and value for money.
• Maintain relationships with internal stakeholders to understand business requirements and deliver effective procurement outcomes.

Education

Postgraduate degree or relevant industry certification

Job description

Senior Procurement & Category Specialist

At Ambulance Victoria (AV) we are proud to share our commitment to saving and improving lives by providing outstanding care for our patients. This is our promise to every patient, and it sits at the heart of everything we do. No matter what corporate or support role you play in delivering our critical services to Victorians, you will join a team dedicated to bringing our vision to be a world leading ambulance service to life.

We are seeking a Senior Procurement & Category Specialist to provide end-to-end procurement, tender, and category management expertise, including leading complex sourcing and tender processes, developing procurement and category strategies and governance documentation, and provide commercial, procurement, and probity advice across AV.

This is a full-time, ongoing position. While WFH/Hybrid options are available, it is essential that the successful applicant maintains a presence at our headquarters in Blackburn (soon to be Doncaster) in line with our hybrid working model.

About the role

Reporting to the Senior Manager Strategic Procurement, this role leads the development and execution of category strategies and sourcing activities that deliver value, manage commercial, and supply risks, and ensure compliance with AV and Victorian Government Purchasing Board (VGPB) requirements and other policy and legislative obligations. Responsibilities include (not limited to):

• Lead end-to-end procurement, tender, and sourcing activities, including complex commercial negotiations with suppliers and stakeholders across the AV portfolio, delivering value for money, sustainable commercial outcomes, and fit-for purpose solutions
• Provide strategic procurement, category, and commercial leadership across AV through influencing, subject matter expertise, and collaboration to achieve organisational objectives
• Develop and implement category and sourcing strategies aligned to AV priorities, expenditure requirements, and market conditions
• Build effective relationships with internal stakeholders to understand business requirements and provide trusted specialist commercial and procurement advice to influence and support stakeholders in achieving an effective balance of quality, risk management, and value for money outcomes

About you

To be considered for this position candidates will have the completion of a postgraduate degree or relevant industry certification (or progress toward) with high level relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of training and sound experience. Other requirements include (not limited to):

• Significant demonstrated experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, and category management to deliver value for money and sustainable commercial outcomes
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of contemporary procurement practices, procurement governance, probity, and value-for-money principles, with the ability to deliver compliant, transparent, and well-governed procurement processes, preferably within a Victorian Government or similarly regulated environment
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex procurement and sourcing projects, managing competing priorities, timelines, risks, governance requirements, and stakeholder expectations to deliver high-quality outcomes aligned with organisational priorities
• Highly developed commercial acumen, financial and analytical capability with experience leading complex commercial negotiations
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships, understand complex business requirements, constructively challenge stakeholders, and secure buy-in for category strategies, sourcing approaches and commercial outcomes
• Demonstrat ed leadership through subject matter expertise, collaboration and influence, ability to build commercial capability, and drive continuous improvement

Working at Ambulance Victoria

As a valued member of AV, you will enjoy a professional working environment that recognises the importance of work/life balance. We offer salary packaging options, generous personal leave entitlements, accrued days off for full-time roles, and other benefits including free on-site parking.

We believe our people are our greatest resource and the sustainability of our workforce depends on how well we utilise our people's skills and abilities and whether our staffing reflects the diversity of the Victorian community. If you are ready to be an integralpartin bringing our values of Care, Accountability, Respect and Excellence to life at AV, we want to hear from you!

Applications must be submitted by 11.59pm (AEDT) on Tuesday 24November 2026.

At all levels of our organisation a diverse and inclusive workforce allows us to deliver the Best Care to the Victorian community, and helps create a healthier, more productive workplace for our people. In the event you require a reasonable adjustment to support your application for this role, please contact us at and a member of our Recruitment & Selection team will be in touch.