Strategic Procurement Specialist

Auckland Council; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Auckland Council is seeking an accomplished Strategic Procurement Specialist to join our Transport Infrastructure Procurement team. You will deliver strategic procurement outcomes across a significant portfolio, developing strategies and ensuring decisions support transport infrastructure priorities.

You will provide specialist commercial and procurement advice across the full lifecycle, from market analysis to supplier management, focusing on whole-of-life value and sustainable outcomes.

Qualifications

• Seven+ years in strategic procurement or similar commercial role.
• Experience developing procurement pipelines and category strategies.
• Strong sourcing, negotiation and contract management capabilities.
• Knowledge of infrastructure markets and supplier dynamics.
• Understanding of public sector requirements in procurement.

Responsibilities

• Develop rolling three-year pipeline of transport infrastructure procurement activity.
• Lead category strategies across transport infrastructure spend.
• Manage complex sourcing, market engagement and negotiations.
• Provide strategic procurement advice in early planning of transport initiatives.
• Apply whole-of-life cost analysis for robust commercial decisions.
• Develop supplier relationship management plans for key suppliers.
• Support contract management and delivery of commercial outcomes.
• Monitor market conditions, supplier capability and procurement risks.
• Embed sustainable and social procurement outcomes across initiatives.
• Promote procurement technology and contribute to transformation.

Skills

Strategic procurement

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Public sector procurement

Supplier relationship management

Commercial judgement

Risk management

Lifecycle procurement

Category strategy

Change/transformation

Education

Tertiary qualification in procurement or related business discipline

Tools

Ready Contracts

SAP Ariba

Microsoft Excel/Word/PowerPoint

Job description

Auckland Council has an opportunity for an accomplished Strategic Procurement Specialist to join our Transport Infrastructure Procurement team.

This role is focused on delivering strategic procurement outcomes across a significant and complex portfolio of transport infrastructure activity. You will work closely with business units to develop procurement strategies, strengthen forward planning and ensure procurement decisions support the successful delivery of Auckland's transport infrastructure priorities.

You will provide specialist commercial and procurement advice throughout the full procurement lifecycle, from early market analysis and category planning through to sourcing, negotiation, contract establishment and supplier relationship management.

With a strong focus on whole of life value, you will identify opportunities to improve commercial performance, manage risk and deliver sustainable and social procurement outcomes across Council's transport infrastructure investment.

You will:

• Partner with business units to develop a rolling three year pipeline of transport infrastructure procurement activity
• Develop and implement category strategies across transport infrastructure spend
• Lead complex sourcing processes, market engagement and commercial negotiations
• Provide strategic procurement advice during the early planning and development of transport initiatives
• Apply whole of life cost analysis to support robust commercial decisions
• Develop supplier relationship management plans for key strategic suppliers
• Support effective contract management and the ongoing delivery of agreed commercial outcomes
• Monitor infrastructure market conditions, supplier capability and emerging procurement risks
• Identify opportunities to leverage Council group procurement activity and improve value for money
• Embed sustainable and social procurement outcomes across transport infrastructure initiatives
• Promote the effective use of procurement technology and contribute to procurement transformation
• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders, suppliers and commercial partners

You are an experienced strategic procurement professional with strong commercial judgement and a proven ability to deliver complex procurement activity.

You will bring substantial experience working across transport infrastructure, civil infrastructure, construction, public sector procurement or a similarly complex and regulated environment. You understand the importance of early procurement involvement and can translate operational and infrastructure requirements into clear, commercially sound procurement strategies.

You will be confident working with senior stakeholders, technical specialists and suppliers. Your ability to influence, challenge constructively and navigate complex commercial matters will be essential to your success.

You will also bring:

• At least seven years of experience in strategic procurement or a comparable commercial role
• Proven experience developing procurement pipelines and category strategies
• Strong strategic sourcing, negotiation and contract management capability
• Strong business planning, target setting and performance measurement skills
• An understanding of infrastructure markets, supplier dynamics and commercial risk
• Knowledge of sustainable procurement, procurement innovation and public sector requirements
• Experience using procurement technology such as Ready Contracts, SAP Ariba or a similar platform
• Advanced Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint capability
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills
• Experience contributing to change, transformation or continuous improvement initiatives
• A relevant tertiary qualification, preferably in procurement, commercial management or a related business discipline
• Eligibility for full MCIPS membership or membership of a comparable professional organisation

Auckland Council provides essential services and infrastructure that support the everyday lives of Aucklanders and the future growth of Tāmaki Makaurau.

This is an opportunity to apply your strategic procurement expertise to a significant transport infrastructure portfolio. You will work on complex and meaningful procurement activity while influencing commercial, sustainability and supplier outcomes across the organisation.

You will join a collaborative and experienced procurement team with opportunities to broaden your expertise and contribute to the continued development of Council's procurement capability.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and provide a supportive workplace where people can contribute, develop and succeed.