Strategic Category Manager: High-Tech Defence Supply

DroneShield Limited; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

DroneShield Group Pty Ltd in Sydney, NSW, is seeking a Category Manager to secure reliable, timely, and compliant supply for high-tech manufacturing, collaborating with Engineering, Operations, Quality and Programs to enable scale.

You will develop category strategies, lead supplier evaluation, and manage contracts, balancing cost with delivery certainty while meeting defence requirements. This role reports to the Head of Procurement and is based in Sydney.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement or category management in manufacturing or regulated environments.
• Strong supplier negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with technical or engineering-driven requirements.
• Defence, aerospace, electronics, or high-tech manufacturing background.
• Experience with contract manufacturers or critical component suppliers.
• Tertiary qualification in Supply Chain, Engineering or Business.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned to manufacturing demand, technology roadmaps, and risk profiles.
• Lead supplier evaluation, selection, and onboarding within the category.
• Own sourcing and negotiation activities through to contract award.
• Manage ongoing supplier performance against delivery, quality, responsiveness, and risk metrics.
• Enable early supplier involvement to support design-for-manufacture, cost reduction, and innovation.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with defence, export control, security, and ethical sourcing requirements.
• Track and report category KPIs including delivery performance, supplier risk, responsiveness, and commercial outcomes.
• On-time availability of category components and services and efficient sourcing cycles.

Skills

Category management

Supplier negotiation

Stakeholder management

Engineering-driven requirements

Supply chain knowledge

Education

Tertiary qualification in Supply Chain, Engineering or Business

Job description

DroneShield Group Pty Ltd in Sydney, NSW, is seeking a Category Manager to secure reliable, timely, and compliant supply for high-tech manufacturing, collaborating with Engineering, Operations, Quality and Programs to enable scale.

You will develop category strategies, lead supplier evaluation, and manage contracts, balancing cost with delivery certainty while meeting defence requirements. This role reports to the Head of Procurement and is based in Sydney.