Category Management Specialist

Category Management & Strategic Sourcing

• Support the development and implementation of category strategies aligned with business objectives and operational requirements.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including market analysis, tendering, supplier evaluation, contract award, and implementation.
• Identify opportunities to optimise cost, improve service delivery, and reduce commercial risk within the Mobile Equipment category.

Contract Management

• Manage contracts throughout their lifecycle to ensure commercial, operational, and performance objectives are achieved.
• Monitor supplier compliance with contractual obligations and agreed performance metrics.
• Support contract renewals, variations, and ongoing contract governance activities.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to maximise value, innovation, and performance.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews and facilitate continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with suppliers to identify cost-saving and value-adding opportunities.

Commercial Negotiation

• Lead and support negotiations for high-value and strategically important contracts.
• Apply structured negotiation methodologies to achieve favourable commercial outcomes while maintaining strong supplier partnerships.
• Provide commercial advice and recommendations to internal stakeholders throughout procurement activities.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure procurement and contracting activities comply with internal governance frameworks, policies, and procedures.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate commercial, contractual, and operational risks.
• Maintain robust procurement documentation and audit-ready records.

Analysis & Reporting

• Analyse procurement, supplier, and category data to support decision-making and strategy development.
• Prepare commercial reports, recommendations, business cases, and performance dashboards.
• Track and report on savings, supplier performance, and category outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build trusted relationships with key internal stakeholders across operational, maintenance, engineering, and commercial teams.
• Act as a strategic procurement partner, ensuring procurement activities align with business priorities.
• Facilitate engagement across cross-functional teams to deliver procurement objectives and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills & Experience

 
To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• 3-5 years' experience within procurement, category management, strategic sourcing, contract management, or supply chain roles.
• Experience within the mining, resources, heavy industry, manufacturing, or mobile equipment sectors is highly regarded.
• Proven ability to manage sourcing projects and supplier relationships in a complex business environment.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience negotiating supplier agreements and contracts.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility across all levels of the business.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Highly developed written communication skills, including the preparation of recommendations, commercial documentation, contract correspondence, and contract variations.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic and changing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Commerce, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Law, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Professional procurement qualifications (CIPS, MCIPS, ISM or equivalent) are advantageous but not essential.

Ideal Candidate Profile We are looking for a proactive procurement professional who combines strong commercial awareness with excellent relationship management skills. You will be comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to deliver measurable business value. Experience supporting mobile equipment categories, mining operations, or large-scale industrial environments will be highly advantageous.

Target Experience Level: Professional (3-5 years)
Location: Perth-based candidates preferred
Industry Background: Mining, resources, heavy industry, mobile equipment, or related procurement environments preferred.
 
 
DRD Group is a specialist recruitment provider renowned for recruiting quality project teams on major projects within the Energy, Resources, Defence, Renewables and Infrastructure sectors.

DRD Group embraces a diverse workforce culture and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply. All work assignments are subject to successful completion of a medical, drug and alcohol screen plus verification of all original certifications and qualifications.
 

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