Manager: Procurement Categories

Purpose Statement

We’re looking for a commercially minded Senior Procurement Manager to lead category strategy and drive enterprise-wide value across a complex, fast-moving environment.

This is not a traditional procurement role. You’ll operate at the intersection of strategy, commercial decision-making, and stakeholder partnership, leading a team of experienced specialists while remaining close to execution.

You’ll play a key role in shaping how procurement supports the business, building scalable approaches, enabling better buying decisions, and driving meaningful outcomes across multiple categories.

What you'll do

Lead Category Strategy

• Design and implement end-to-end category management frameworks that can be applied across the organisation
• Analyse business purchasing behaviour and define commercial strategies that optimise cost, value, and supplier performance
• Translate complex business needs into practical, repeatable procurement approaches

Lead a High-Performing Team

• Manage and develop a team of senior procurement and category specialists
• Provide strategic direction, coaching, and support — enabling the team to operate with autonomy and accountability
• Create a culture focused on problem-solving, ownership, and delivery

Stay Close to the Work

• Take ownership of selected categories, including negotiation, sourcing, and supplier management
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex commercial decisions
• Ensure delivery is commercially sound, timely, and aligned to business priorities 

Partner with the Business

• Work closely with stakeholders across functions (including areas such as marketing, financial services, and support functions)
• Build trusted relationships to influence decision-making and deliver client-centric solutions
• Balance commercial outcomes with business enablement and customer impact

What you bring

• 8+ years’ experience in Procurement, Sourcing or Commercial roles
• Category Management experience in a previous role
• Providing expert advice and guidance, operating across multiple categories across a large and complex organisation.
• Proven experience of using influence and relationships to drive and achieve objectives. 
• Dealing with external third parties. 
• Developing and executing category sourcing strategies 
• Strong leadership, collaboration and influencing skills
• Strong business acumen, skillfully navigating functional priorities while delivering business objectives
• Ability to develop business cases, presentations and stakeholder communications.
• Strong digital dexterity skills, including the ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and leverage data
• Experience with SAP or site-relevant ERP systems, e-sourcing platforms, Request for quotation tools and project management tools

Qualifications (Ideal or Preferred)

Conditions of Employment