Strategic Category Lead

Evolution Mining; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

relocation

support assistance

novated car leasing

life insurance and income protection

short-term incentives

referral bonuses

recognition programs

study assistance

discounted health insurance and well­-

Job summary

Evolution Mining in Sydney seeks a Strategic Category Lead to own end-to-end category management across critical spend areas and to partner with operational leaders across Australia. You will shape category strategies, drive sourcing and negotiations, and embed governance, sustainability and risk management in procurement practices.

You will lead market intelligence, spend analytics and supplier relationships, delivering value and resilience while aligning with our Group Office and global

Qualifications

• Experience in category management, strategic sourcing and contract management within mining, resources or heavy industry environments.
• Ability to influence, align and build consensus among diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience negotiating high-value agreements.
• Ability to develop and implement category strategies balancing value, risk, security of supply and operational performance.
• Experience building trusted relationships with operational, technical and senior stakeholders.
• Strong analytical capability including spend analysis, forecasting and market assessment.
• Experience managing supplier performance and developing strategic supplier relationships.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a practical approach to delivering results.
• Tertiary qualifications in procurement or related discipline;_CIPS credentials looking favorable.

Responsibilities

• Lead category initiatives from opportunity identification through sourcing, implementation and benefit realisation.
• Develop and implement sourcing strategies that optimise value while balancing security of supply, operational performance and risk management.
• Leverage spend analytics, market intelligence and business data to enhance decision making and strengthen category insights.
• Lead complex sourcing activities and negotiations for high-value contracts and long-term agreements.
• Build strong supplier relationships that improve performance, innovation and supply resilience.
• Manage commercial, operational and supply chain risks across assigned categories.
• Embed sustainability, governance and compliance requirements into procurement activities.
• Contribute to the ongoing evolution of Procurement & Supply through standardisation and data-driven decision making.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Contract management

Stakeholder influence

Commercial acumen

Supplier relationship building

Spend analytics

Continuous improvement

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Education

Tertiary qualifications in procurement

CIPS qualification

Job description

About us

From humble beginnings in 2011, Evolution Mining is now a leading gold producer, operating six mines across Australia and Canada. Enacting our vision of inspired people creating a premier global gold company, we are a bold team with a bright future.

Our operational diversity offers our employees access to a broad range of experiences and career opportunities within the one company. Whether you choose to work at one of our underground or open pit operations, explore for our future as part of our Discovery team, or join our Group Office, we know you will have a bright future with us.

Shape the strategy behind some of Evolution Mining’s most critical procurement categories

At Evolution Mining, procurement plays an important role in supporting operational performance, security of supply and long-term business success.

We’re looking for an experienced Strategic Category Lead to take ownership of key enterprise-wide categories, partnering closely with stakeholders across our Australian operations to develop and deliver category strategies that create lasting value.

This is an opportunity to step into a role with genuine influence. You will work alongside operational leaders, commercial teams and suppliers to solve complex challenges, strengthen supplier partnerships and help shape the future direction of procurement across the business.

About the role

Reporting to the Group Manager Procurement and Supply, you will lead the end-to-end category management lifecycle across critical spend categories, balancing commercial outcomes, operational requirements and long-term business objectives.

As part of the continued evolution of Evolution’s Procurement & Supply function, Category Leads play a key role in providing strategic ownership of enterprise-wide spend categories and delivering value through category management excellence.

You will combine market intelligence, stakeholder engagement and strategic sourcing expertise to ensure Evolution has secure, sustainable and commercially competitive supply arrangements in place.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead category initiatives from opportunity identification through sourcing, implementation and benefit realisation.
• Develop and implement sourcing strategies that optimise value for money while balancing security of supply, operational performance and appropriate risk management Partner with stakeholders across operational and corporate functions to understand requirements and identify opportunities for value creation
• Leverage and continuously improve spend analytics, market intelligence and business data to enhance decision making, identify opportunities and strengthen category insights
• Leading complex sourcing activities and commercial negotiations for high-value contracts and long-term agreements
• Building strong supplier relationships that improve performance, innovation and supply resilience
• Managing commercial, operational and supply chain risks across assigned categories
• Embedding sustainability, governance and compliance requirements into procurement activities
• Contribute to the ongoing evolution of Procurement & Supply through continuous improvement, standardisation, data-driven decision making and the adoption of leading procurement practices

About you

You are a commercially astute category management professional who enjoys working in partnership with stakeholders to solve problems and deliver practical business outcomes. Experience within mining, resources or other heavy industry environments is desirable.

You understand the unique balance of operational risk, security of supply, commercial performance and stakeholder expectations that shape procurement outcomes in complex operating businesses.

Comfortable operating in a complex environment, you can move between developing long-term strategy, analysing market and spend information, leading negotiations and influencing senior stakeholders.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience in category management, strategic sourcing and contract management within mining, resources or a comparable heavy industry environment
• Demonstrated ability to influence, align and build consensus amongst diverse stakeholder groups
• Strong commercial acumen and experience negotiating high-value agreements
• The ability to develop and implement category strategies that optimise value for money while balancing risk, security of supply and operational performance
• Experience building trusted relationships with operational, technical and senior stakeholders
• Strong analytical capability, including spend analysis, forecasting and supply market assessment
• Experience managing supplier performance and developing strategic supplier relationships
• A continuous improvement mindset and a practical approach to delivering results
• Tertiary qualifications in procurement, supply chain, business, commerce or a related discipline
• CIPS qualifications or similar procurement credentials will be well regarded

At our Group Office

Working in our Group Office, you have a front row seat to our vision and are part of the teams contributing to its success. We are an agile, entrepreneurial company and value smart people, practical thinking and different perspectives.

When you work with us, you can progress from where you started. Based in Sydney CBD, our people work with teams located across Australia and Canada, providing varied work and opportunities to learn and grow.

Your benefits

At Evolution, we support, develop and reward everyone who chooses to be part of our bright future.

Your benefits include

• relocation
• support assistance,
• novated car leasing,
• life insurance and income protection,
• short-term incentives,
• referral bonuses,
• recognition programs,
• study assistance,
• discounted health insurance and wellness days.

This role will see you working from our Sydney office, with flexibility options available. We understand that flexible work means something different to everyone and encourage you to have a conversation about what flexibility looks like.

At Evolution, as our name suggests, change and transformation are in our DNA. We want the Evolution experience to be your career highlight.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce that represents the communities in which we operate. We provide a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible for all.

We are focused on keeping our people safe and healthy and creating sustainable value in an environmentally and socially responsible way.

To find out more about us and our Group Office, visit https://joinus.evolutionmining.com/