Urgent Search ASO8 Procurement Lead

Overview

Office for Early Childhood Development
Job reference: 702593
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Long Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Why work with us

The Office for Early Childhood Development (OECD) has been formed with a clear mandate: to create a fairer and better future for all children in South Australia by implementing the accepted recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care.

As the steward of the early childhood development system, the Office will act on government's behalf, and work in collaboration with the sector, to organise and connect the system to reduce developmental vulnerability.

This includes providing universal access to quality, teacher-led preschool from the age of 3, growing and sustaining a quality early childhood workforce, and greater supports and connected services for families in the 1000 days of a child’s life.

About this role

The Procurement Lead will be responsible for fostering best practice procurement, grant and contract management across the Office for Early Childhood Development (OECD). To support the engagement of suppliers and providers across OECD’s reform and corporate activities, this role will provide expert, strategic and tactical advice on:

- The progression and development of systems and processes
- Training and education
- Monitoring
- Forward procurement planning
- Reporting
- Analysis
- Stakeholder management
- Process support
- Compliance

Working under broad direction within the Corporate Services team of the Office of the Chief Executive, the Procurement Lead will exercise original thinking and independent judgement to improve OECD’s decision-making, performance and compliance.

Your Key Responsibilities

- Oversee OECD’s Procurement function through well-developed mechanisms that forward plan, capture, monitor and enable timely progress, regulatory and compliance reporting and decision making.
- Provide expert advice and recommendations to guide OECD’s strategic, tactical and operational approaches to procurement, grant and contract management, ensuring alignment with best practice.
- Provide process support for complex and strategic procurements that contribute to the OECD’s reform agenda.
- Maintain relationships with key stakeholders including Department for Education, Procurement SA, Office for Industry Advocate and Supply Nation to improve efficacy of OECD managed and impacted processes and outcomes.

About you

The Procurement Lead will bring demonstrated expert procurement expertise and experience within the South Australia Public Sector to ensure alignment to Treasurer’s instructions, Procurement SA guidelines and Parliamentary System and Cabinet processes. Supported by high-level communication skills, the Procurement Lead will also build collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to maintain networks and build internal knowledge.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for someone who brings:

- Business Acumen: ability to understand and manage various business situations, exercising critical thinking, independent judgement and leadership and provide expert procurement advice to achieve goals and ensure business success.
- Communication skills: ability to communicate effectively and provide concise, accessible and high-quality procurement, grant and contract management reports.
- Solution focus: demonstrated ability to work in a highly effective manner to determine objectives and priorities within the framework of corporate goals, ensuring critical deadlines are met.
- Problem solving: demonstrated ability to apply strategic, conceptual and analytical problem-solving skills including the ability to plan, lead, implement, evaluate and manage multiple financial projects.

Role Benefits

- A role with real influence and impact in the Office for Early Childhood Development reaching its strategic priorities
- Opportunities for professional development and career growth within the public sector
- Be part of an agency with a clear mission to improve the lives of South Australia’s children and families.
- Access to SMARTSalary and Novated Leave arrangements.
- Access to flexible working arrangements.

Application Instructions and Information

Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website.

Applicants must submit a CV, Pre-employment Declaration, and a cover letter outlining their suitability against the attached position description.

Remuneration

Remuneration: ASO8 - $121,107 - $125,679 (1.0 FTE) per annum, plus superannuation.

Additional Note

This is a full-time 2-year long term contract role (1.0 FTE) with potential to be made ongoing.

Enquiries

Enquiries can be directed to OECD.PandC@sa.gov.au

Special Conditions

For all other special conditions please refer to the attached position description.

Applications close: 12/10/2025 11:45 PM

Attachments

- ASO8 Procurement Lead Position Description.pdf
- Pre-Employment-Declaration_240522.pdf

Flexibility Statement

The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.

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