Strategic Procurement Specialist

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 108,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging options

12% superannuation

Job summary

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Parkville, VIC is seeking a Strategic Procurement Specialist to lead strategic sourcing and major procurements. You will drive negotiations, build strong supplier partnerships and deliver value across the Institute for research equipment, infrastructure and technology platforms.

You will collaborate with researchers and project teams from business case through to contract and supplier performance, applying governance, risk management and commercial acumen

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications and/or professional procurement certification.
• Significant experience in strategic procurement, sourcing and market engagement.
• Experience managing high-value and complex procurements including capital projects.
• Strong commercial acumen and contract negotiation skills.
• Experience in contract management and supplier performance monitoring.
• Knowledge of procurement governance, compliance and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead significant procurement initiatives enabling cutting-edge research and organisational success.
• Be the commercial lead on major procurements of scientific equipment and infrastructure.
• Partner with researchers and project teams from business case through to contract and supplier performance.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Tender management

Contract negotiation

Supplier relationship management

Risk management

Analytical mindset

Education

Procurement certification

Job description

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute – Parkville VIC

Join WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research), one of Australia's leading medical research institutes, where procurement and strategic asset management enable world-class science in cancer, immunity and infectious disease.

About the Position

Join us as a Strategic Procurement Specialist, where you'll lead significant procurement initiatives that enable cutting-edge research and organisational success. You'll drive strategic sourcing, manage complex commercial negotiations, build strong supplier partnerships and deliver procurement outcomes that create lasting value across the Institute.

You'll be the commercial lead on major procurements of scientific equipment, research infrastructure and technology platforms, partnering with researchers and project teams from business case through to contract and supplier performance.

Who are you

You bring strong expertise in strategic sourcing, tender management, contract negotiation and supplier relationship management, with the ability to navigate complex commercial environments and influence decision‑making at all levels. Your analytical mindset, commercial acumen and problem‑solving skills enable you to develop innovative procurement strategies and deliver effective solutions for complex business needs.

Selection Criteria

Essential Knowledge and Skills:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or professional procurement certification.
• Demonstrated significant experience in strategic procurement, sourcing and market engagement.
• Experience managing high‑value and complex procurement activities, including capital projects, scientific equipment or infrastructure procurements.
• Strong commercial acumen and contract negotiation skills.
• Experience in contract management, supplier relationship management and supplier performance monitoring.
• Sound knowledge of procurement governance, compliance and risk management principles.
• Experience within research, healthcare, university or scientific environments would be highly regarded.

Personal Qualities

• Ability to work autonomously and exercise sound judgement when managing complex procurement, commercial and supplier‑related matters.
• Well‑developed analytical, problem‑solving and decision‑making skills, with the ability to interpret information, assess risk and develop practical solutions.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and work collaboratively with researchers, professional staff, suppliers and external stakeholders.
• Strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and work effectively with people at all levels of the organisation.

Refer to the position description below for full key selection criteria.

Terms of Appointment

This position is ongoing in a full‑time capacity. Salary Professional Services Employee Level 7 ($108,119 - $117,039). Salary packaging options are available for general living expenses, meal entertainment, novated leasing and more. 12% superannuation payable, plus up to a further 5% after the first 6 months of service via our matching superannuation scheme.

General enquiries can be directed to ***********@wehi.edu.au.
A position description is available here.

Application Closing Date: The closing date for applications is 29 November 2026, however, we will be reviewing applications as they are received, and WEHI reserves the right to appoint a suitable candidate prior to the closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid missing this opportunity.

WEHI - Brighter together

WEHI is where the world's brightest minds collaborate and innovate to make discoveries that will help us to live healthier for longer. Our medical researchers have been serving the community for more than 100 years. We bring together people with different skills and experience who are committed to long‑term discovery. Our teams of researchers are committed to solving the most complex health problems, making transformative discoveries for cancer, infectious and immune diseases, developmental disorders and healthy ageing.

WEHI is a place where people are able to shine. People who are inquisitive, who are committed, who are passionate. People who want to make a difference. And we are committed to ensuring they have the tools to flourish, personally and professionally. We are a community of researchers, students and professional service staff who work towards achieving discoveries that improve human health. We are driven by collaboration, curiosity and creativity. We are committed to making a positive difference to the lives of people in Australia and around the world. We are WEHI. We are brighter together.

WEHI's commitment to diversity and inclusion

At WEHI we strive to foster a flexible working environment that encourages individual differences and promotes collaboration and creativity. We recognise that talent does not sit within a single identifiable group in our society and that WEHI's ability to shape contemporary scientific thinking and deliver leading professional services relies on a diversity of thought within our organisation. Our action to promote gender equality has been recognised with an Athena SWAN Bronze Award from Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) and we offer a range of support for women researchers.

Our commitment to celebrating diversity and addressing inequities is further demonstrated through our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, Gender Action Plan, Reconciliation Action Plan and our WE-Pride network for LGBTQIA+ staff and students. We actively encourage applications from, people with a disability, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people and people with diverse genders and sexualities. Should you require support during the recruitment process due to special needs or consideration, please contact the People and Culture team.

WEHI's commitment to Indigenous employment

WEHI is working to create a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be engaged at the scientific frontier, making exciting discoveries and decisions about the future of health in this country, and part of a leading professional services workforce supporting the realisation of these discoveries. We are committed to creating a culturally safe workplace and offering career development and leadership opportunities to First Nations staff and students. We strongly encourage any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply.