Category Manager

**Job no**: 533188
**Work type**: Full Time
**Location**: Sydney, NSW
**Categories**: Procurement
- **Employment Type**: Full-Time (35 hours p/week)
- **Duration**: Fixed-Term Contract until 5 December 2025
- **Remuneration**:$127,351 - $143,488 + 17% Super + Leave Loading
- **Location**: UNSW Kensington Campus (2-3 days per week in the office/5 days per fortnight)

**About UNSW**:
UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community, a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.

**Why Your Role Matters**:
Strategic Procurement at UNSW delivers value by providing safe, efficient, and effective procurement services to faculties, businesses, and divisions. This value is achieved through competitive supply markets, capable people, consistent processes, and the use of e-technologies—driving continuous supply chain improvement, enhanced corporate social responsibility, and measurable outcomes for UNSW.

Within this function, the **Research and Major Equipment Category Manager** plays a key role in managing and coordinating the delivery of high-value research and major equipment products and services. The role is responsible for preparing category plans, leading sourcing activities, managing contracts, and overseeing supplier performance to ensure alignment with UNSW’s research and equipment strategies. This position is part of a high-performing team that closely monitors industry developments and builds strong relationships within the UNSW Research and Major Equipment division to enable continuous improvement and manage legal, commercial, and supply risks effectively.

**Responsibilities Include**:

- Optimise the supply base by leveraging solutions such as aggregation, bundling, consolidation, rationalisation, or re-engineering for key spend categories.
- Provide advice on complex procurement issues, including market approach, sourcing strategy, and negotiations.
- Guide contract management practices, recommending improved tools, templates, and approaches to enhance profitability and compliance.
- Collaborate with and influence stakeholders at all levels, from the Board to Contract Managers.
- Be recognised as a trusted commercial advisor and expert in strategic vendor relationships, identifying value and leveraging IP to meet operational needs.
- Manage competing stakeholder priorities and business improvement initiatives using strategic thinking and influence.
- Secure procurement benefits, identify future opportunities, and track pipeline activity.

**Skills and Experience Summary**:

- Degree in Business, Commerce, or minimum 5 years’ procurement experience, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Experience in strategic sourcing, category management, and procurement category knowledge.
- Advanced analytical, critical reasoning, and creative thinking skills.
- Strong influencing, communication, negotiation, and customer service skills.
- Clear verbal and written communication, with a motivated and solutions-focused attitude.
- Strong collaboration skills with the ability to manage time, coordinate workflows, and meet deadlines in a team environment.
- Flexible and creative, with a demonstrated ability to adopt new methods and challenge existing processes to meet customer needs.
- Proven ability to engage stakeholders and deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes.
- Strategic and creative thinker focused on maximising organisational value.
- Understanding of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to relevant training.
- Experience working in government, higher education, or managing public expenditure.

**Benefits and Culture**:People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world. Our benefits include:
- Career development opportunities
- 17% Superannuation contributions
- Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period
- Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness)
- The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment._

Position Description

**Advertised**: 02 Jul 2025 AUS Eastern Standard Time
**Applications close**: 16 Jul 2025 AUS Eastern Standard Time