Senior Category Specialist

Senior Category Specialist

 

Location: Parramatta (hybrid working)

Employment type: Ongoing Full time

Salary: Clerk Grade 9/10 ($133,348 - $146,945 pa), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

 

Your role

The Senior Category Specialist role will be working in the ICT Category Management team in Procurement. In this role you will partner with stakeholders in the ICT category to plan, develop, source, and manage procurement arrangements to effectively meet organisational and business objectives.

What you’ll do

 

As an integral part of the Strategic Procurement team, the Senior Category Specialist provides expert technical procurement advice on policies, procedures, systems, and standards to stakeholders undertaking procurement.

 

The role focuses on:

 

• Undertaking procurement planning, sourcing, and contract management activities enabling stakeholders to meet their strategic objectives whilst exercising due diligence and ensuring compliance with policies and processes.
• Collaborating with key business stakeholders to develop innovative procurement and category management strategies to meet specific business needs and deliver value for money.
• Engaging with and advising key stakeholders on procurement policies and procedures.
• Analyse business needs, commercial risks, and supply markets to inform category planning and sourcing.

 

Key deliverables

 

• Develop and implement category management plans and strategies to optimise value for money and meet business objectives.
• Partner with stakeholders on all aspects of procurement, applying extensive knowledge across a range of procurement categories, to deliver desired procurement outcomes.
• Analyse business needs, commercial risks, and supply markets to inform category planning and sourcing.
• Research, develop, implement, and review organisational procurement policy, procedures, systems, and standards to effectively support procurement needs.
• Identify and mitigate procurement risk and meet all legislative and regulatory compliance and reporting requirements.
• Develop contract management plans and manage supplier performance by developing effective supplier relationships to enhance category outcomes.

 

What we’re looking for

Our ideal candidate is a proactive procurement professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and quickly builds trusted relationships. You will provide expert advice across ICT procurements, guiding stakeholders through the procurement lifecycle and risk management. With a strong customer focus, excellent attention to detail, and experience developing high-quality procurement documentation, you will collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders to deliver successful procurement outcomes.

Success in this role involves:

• A customer-centric approach.
• Expert knowledge and experience in strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, and contract management.
• Excellent analytical and presentation skills
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills
• Working with minimal supervision in a high-volume environment, managing competing deadlines.
• Ability to research, interpret and apply Legislation and Policy

Download the role description.

 

If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.

 

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now’ button.

 

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage, and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

 

What We Offer

 

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

 

• A challenging and rewarding career.

• Flexible, autonomous work environment

• Competitive pay and conditions

• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities.

• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

 

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

 

We do work that really matters.

 

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families, and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

 

Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

 

Are you ready to join us?

 

Click apply, attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

 

Applications close Tuesday, 15th September 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.

 

Got a question?

 

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Sharon Mascarenhas, Category Manager via email sharon.mascarenhas@dcj.nsw.gov.au

 

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best, please call Sarah Nguyen on 02 9765 5046 or via thikimyen.nguyen@dcj.nsw.gov.au   

 

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

 

 

Inclusion and Diversity lie at the heart of how we recruit.

 

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience, and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers, and other diversity groups.

 

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

 

Other Information

 

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

 

For more information visit Your recruitment journey on the DCJ website.

 

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

 

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

 

The Welcome Experience
 Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience

 

The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW’ page.