Procurement Services Manager

Transpower New Zealand Limited (TPNZ); Wellington, Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Transpower New Zealand Limited (TPNZ) is seeking a Senior Leader to drive procurement excellence across the organisation in Wellington. You will lead procurement operations, governance, reporting and continuous improvement initiatives that deliver value and efficiency.

You’ll partner with the Head of Procurement, category teams and stakeholders to ensure robust processes, trusted information, and effective controls that support timely decision making and enterprise outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading procurement operations within a large, complex org.
• Proven people leadership, directing teams and improving service delivery.
• Strong understanding of procurement governance, supplier and contract management.
• Experience designing and embedding business processes, service models, and systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead services, systems and governance to enable efficient procurement operations.
• Develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives across procurement.
• Balance service delivery with governance, risk and commercial outcomes.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across Transpower to improve outcomes and user experience.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Team leadership

Procurement governance

Stakeholder engagement

Digital tools & analytics

Education

CIPS accreditation

Tools

Procurement systems

Analytics tools

Job description

• Lead procurement excellence for Transpower
• Drive procurement governance, systems, reporting and service delivery performance
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance value and efficiency

Transpower’s purpose is to empower the energy future for New Zealand, a future that delivers a net-zero carbon economy and a reliable, secure electricity system.

At the forefront of the energy sector, Transpower is the state-owned enterprise that owns and operates New Zealand’s national electricity transmission system and fulfils the role of system operator. With more than $5 billion in critical infrastructure assets, we play a pivotal role in connecting generators to users and distribution networks across Aotearoa.

Role Context

Procurement plays a critical role in helping Transpower deliver major infrastructure, technology, operational and corporate outcomes. As we continue to invest in the future grid, Procurement is evolving from a reactive service to a proactive commercial partner that enables better decisions, improved supplier outcomes and greater enterprise value.

About the Team

The Procurement team enables Transpower to deliver the future grid with confidence by proactively setting the function up to support easier and earlier commercial decisions, strengthening supplier and contract stewardship, and protecting enterprise value.

The team provides enterprise-wide procurement leadership, sourcing support, supplier relationship management, commercial advice, governance, performance reporting and contract management frameworks. As Procurement continues to mature, the team is focused on creating simpler customer experiences, stronger supplier partnerships and better organisational outcomes.

You’ll lead a team responsible for procurement operations, systems, governance, reporting, capability and continuous improvement. You’ll work closely with the Head of Procurement, Principal Procurement Advisor, category and commercial teams, and stakeholders across Transpower.

The Opportunity

This is a leadership role focused on enabling procurement excellence across Transpower.

You’ll lead the services, systems and governance that help Procurement operate efficiently, consistently and with appropriate commercial rigour. You’ll ensure processes are easy to navigate, information is trusted, controls are effective and stakeholders receive practical support that enables timely decision-making.

You’ll focus on continuous improvement, translating Procurement’s maturity and transformation priorities into sustainable operational practice. This includes improving systems and workflows, strengthening supplier and contract governance, enhancing reporting and insights, developing capability and embedding continuous improvement.

Working at the intersection of procurement, business operations, commercial governance, systems and change, you’ll balance service delivery, stakeholder needs, risk management and long-term capability development.

Over the next few years, your focus will include:

• Leading Procurement Services and ensuring efficient, commercially robust, reliable and customer-focused operational delivery.
• Continuously improving procurement systems, workflows, controls and digital tools.
• Embedding procurement governance, policies, delegated authorities and assurance processes.
• Strengthening supplier, contract and performance information to support better decision-making and risk management.
• End to end responsibility for reporting, insights and performance measures that demonstrate Procurement’s effectiveness and value.
• Continually leading capability development and adoption of procurement frameworks across the organisation.
• Partnering with stakeholders across Transpower to improve procurement outcomes and user experience.

What Will You Bring?

You’ll bring operational procurement leadership experience alongside the ability to lead teams, plan resources, improve services, build capability and embed change across a complex organisation.

You’ll be comfortable influencing stakeholders, improving systems and processes, and developing practical solutions that balance business needs, governance requirements and commercial outcomes.

Capabilities and experience we’re looking for (please demonstrate in your CV and cover letter)

• Experience leading procurement operations, procurement excellence, shared services or a similar business support function within a large and complex organisation.
• Proven people leadership capability, including building effective teams, developing capability, setting direction and improving service delivery.
• Strong understanding of procurement governance, sourcing support, supplier and contract management, assurance and operational controls.
• Experience designing, improving and embedding business processes, service models, systems and ways of working.
• Strong digital and analytical capability, including procurement systems, workflow optimisation, reporting and technology-enabled service improvement.
• Demonstrated success leading change, continuous improvement or transformation initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility across operational, corporate and senior leadership groups.
• Ability to balance service delivery, governance, risk and commercial outcomes while managing priorities, resources and performance.

We’re interested in people who have led procurement operations, procurement excellence, commercial services, supply chain enablement or related functions. Your experience may come from infrastructure, utilities, engineering, government, technology or another complex environment.

What’s Advantageous but Not Essential

• Experience leading procurement transformation or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience with procurement systems, digital tools and analytics.
• Knowledge of supplier relationship management and contract governance practices.
• Professional procurement accreditation, such as CIPS.
• Experience in an asset-intensive industry such as infrastructure, utilities, engineering or energy.
• Familiarity with New Zealand’s energy sector.

Join Us at Transpower

Aotearoa New Zealand is powered by the people who work here. Every home, marae, electric vehicle and hospital relies on the electricity we help move and manage. This is your opportunity to join an organisation with national impact, supporting New Zealanders, the economy and the transition to a more sustainable future.

Our people bring diverse perspectives, expertise and a strong sense of purpose. We work in the office or on-site for a minimum of three days each week to build relationships, support learning, deliver outcomes and sustain our culture. We also offer flexibility around daily start and finish times to help balance work and personal commitments.

We prioritise employee wellbeing and development through a wide range of benefits and support. Learn more about Transpower staff benefits .

Existing eligibility to work in Aotearoa New Zealand is required.

Transpower’s careers website is the official channel for advertised vacancies. Any correspondence from Transpowerregarding a role will be from [e-mail] or a similaremail address.