Category Lead

**Help us deliver like never before**

Australia Post is delivering like never before. From the vehicles that we drive, to the small businesses that make our communities thrive. We’re delivering for the environment, for our communities, for our customers and for our people. We’re moving forward and we want you to come along for the ride.

**About the opportunity**

Based in Melbourne, the Category Lead role aims to establish a category management framework for our ‘Last Mile’ Contracts, developing a service model between contract management and operations. Reporting to the Network Partners Manager, this position focuses on optimizing parcel services through strategic sourcing, supplier management, contract negotiations, and continuous improvement. With responsibility for around 70 parcel contracts totalling approximately $100 million annually, the Category Lead collaborates across teams to align strategies with parcel network objectives.

**What you’ll deliver with us**

To thrive in this role, you'll make a meaningful impact by leveraging your existing skills to develop in a fast-paced and supportive environment. Your deliverables will include sourcing supplier contracts via effective negotiation techniques and cultivating key business partnerships through excellent relationship management. Consistently conducting performance reviews, promptly addressing concerns, and fostering a collaborative partnership will be pivotal in ensuring sustained success over the long term.

**You’ll also**
- Develop and implement category strategies aligned with parcel network objectives
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., operations and finance) for stakeholder engagement and strategy alignment
- Conduct strategic sourcing, including market research, benchmarking, and assessments, to evaluate and identify potential suppliers
- Lead contract negotiations, ensuring favourable terms and compliance with standards
- Proactively monitor and manage spend and embed changes into contracts
- Identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives for cost savings and risk mitigation
- Stay updated on market trends, emerging technology, and industry best practices to inform strategic decisions
- Ensure compliance with company policies, legal regulations, and ethical standards within the category

**About you**

You will excel in face-to-face negotiations, possess strong financial and commercial acumen, and embody solid leadership qualities. Join our team where your expertise is recognized and your contribution matters.

**You’ll also have**
- Demonstrable success in managing contract and supplier relationships with professionalism and meeting critical deadlines under pressure
- Well-developed verbal & written communication skills across various channels, ensuring concise and effective information delivery
- Proven experience in driving transformative change within large, complex organizations, showcasing adaptability to evolving business landscapes
- Outstanding relationship building with internal & external stakeholders, collaborating seamlessly with senior management, finance, compliance, principal contractors and extended workforce
- An understanding of key internal and external stakeholders impacting the extended workforce environment
- Adaptability to emerging technologies and systems including our Contractor Compliance Management System
- Ideally, you’ll come from a finance or procurement background and thrive on navigating risk & governance, process improvement and data interpretation

**How we’ll deliver for you**
- Work for an iconic and leading logistics company
- Collaborative team environment
- Strong Career development

**We’re delivering together**

Our diverse and inclusive workplaces bring out the best in our people. We're all ages, genders and abilities, and we come from all walks of life. That’s how we deliver for Australia - together. We believe our business should reflect the diverse communities we operate in. See how we’re achieving that here.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we operate, live and gather as employees, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. To find out more about our progress with reconciliation, watch this short video.

**One last thing