Category Specialist

SGS; Auckland; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global inspection and certification company is seeking a Category Specialist in Auckland, New Zealand. In this full-time role, you will develop strategic sourcing and category management across multiple regions, drive cost savings, and enhance operational efficiency. The ideal candidate has a decade of procurement experience and strong relationship management skills. This position offers opportunities for career development and a commitment to sustainability.

Benefits

Commitment to ongoing learning & development

Sustainability embedded in culture

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• 10 years' experience in procurement with 5 years in category management.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category strategies for assigned spend categories.
• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing and procurement lifecycle activities.
• Drive cost savings, operational efficiency, and compliance across the business.

Skills

Procurement experience

Category Management

Supplier relationship management

Negotiation skills

Analytical mindset

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant degree or certification

MCIPS

Tools

Oracle (or similar ERP)

Job description

Company Description

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 97,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

Job Description

Join SGS New Zealand as a Category Specialist. In this full-time position, you will develop and drive strategic sourcing and category management across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. This is a high-impact role where you’ll be the key interface between business lines, vendors, Shared Services, and the Global Category Management team—delivering measurable performance improvements aligned with global procurement strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver category strategies for assigned spend categories, aligned with SGS Global Category Management
• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing and procurement lifecycle activities, including tendering, contracting, supplier evaluation, and negotiation
• Drive cost savings, operational efficiency, and compliance across the business
• Conduct market intelligence analysis to understand sector conditions and supplier landscapes
• Monitor and enforce compliance with preferred supplier programs
• Plan and forecast procurement of materials and services with a focus on total cost of ownership
• Key interface/focal point for the business lines, acting as a conduit for procurement and category subject matter expert
• Communicate the value of strategic sourcing to stakeholders, including cost, schedule, and administrative benefits

Qualifications

• 10 years' experience in procurement with at least 5 years in category management, ideally working across Australia and New Zealand
• Category Management experience with the following would be preferred; Subcontractors, Professional Services, IT/Telecommunication, Test & Field equipment
• Proven ability in managing multi-vendor, direct and indirect supplier relationships.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication abilities
• Analytical mindset with a focus on performance and compliance
• Familiarity with procurement systems and global sourcing practices
• MCIPS highly regarded
• Familiarity with Oracle (or similar ERP) software and desktop sourcing tools.

Additional Information

Working at SGS means joining a sustainable, innovative, global company.

Here are some of the benefits to working for SGS.

• Commitment to ongoing learning & development
• Sustainability is embedded in our culture and the way we do business
• Career development opportunities (both nationally and globally)

To discover more about SGS globally, visit www.SGS.com