Strategic Category Manager – High-Tech Manufacturing

DroneShield; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

DroneShield is seeking a Category Manager to join our Sydney team, reporting to the Head of Procurement. You will secure reliable, timely, and compliant supply for high-tech manufacturing, balancing speed, resilience, and commercial discipline to enable scale.

Working with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Programs, you will lead category strategy, supplier evaluation, and contracting, while managing risk and ensuring defence and regulatory compliance across global suppliers.

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.
• Own sourcing and negotiation activities through to contract award.
• Balance commercial outcomes with delivery certainty and operational criticality.
• Track and report category KPIs including delivery performance, supplier risk, responsiveness, and commercial outcomes.
• Enable early supplier involvement to support design-for-manufacture, cost reduction, and innovation.

Skills

Procurement

Category management

Supplier negotiation

Stakeholder management

Technical requirements

Education

Tertiary qualification in Supply Chain/Engineering/Business

Job description

DroneShield is seeking a Category Manager to join our Sydney team, reporting to the Head of Procurement. You will secure reliable, timely, and compliant supply for high-tech manufacturing, balancing speed, resilience, and commercial discipline to enable scale.

Working with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Programs, you will lead category strategy, supplier evaluation, and contracting, while managing risk and ensuring defence and regulatory compliance across global suppliers.