We are currently recruiting for a Procurement Business Partner to join our team. This role can be based anywhere within our operational footprint.
This role provides strategic procurement leadership and partnering support across Essential Energy, working closely with senior leaders, operational teams and third‑party suppliers to ensure procurement outcomes deliver value‑for‑money, support business objectives and meet governance and compliance requirements.
The Procurement Business Partner is the lead relationship manager for procurement‑related matters for assigned business areas, providing expert commercial and technical advice across sourcing, contracting and supplier engagement. With a strong customer‑centric focus, this role supports the development and execution of tailored procurement strategies aligned to business priorities.
This role leads all aspects of procurement for emerging renewable energy technologies including microgrids, battery energy storage systems (BESS), stand‑alone power systems (SAPS) and other technologies. As the energy transition gains pace these technologies are experiencing rapid growth and prominence along with fast moving change in the supplier base and ways in which they are utilised. This role will work closely with engineering, design and commercial stakeholders to drive delivery of multiple projects across NSW.
This role will be a strategic enabler to reduce technical, commercial and delivery risk whilst enabling innovation and consistency across Essential Energy projects.
Key Responsibilities
* Represent Procurement as a trusted strategic partner to executives and internal stakeholders, embedding procurement into planning and decision‑making processes
* Align procurement initiatives with business objectives and guide teams through complex sourcing decisions to deliver strong commercial and operational outcomes
* Undertake market research to understand the supplier landscape and capabilities, and build relationships with suppliers of materials, software, design services and construction services
* Engage broadly across other distribution businesses and similar organisations to understand industry trends, learnings and best practice
* Run early market engagement to test technology maturity, supply chain constraints and contracting norms
* Effectively brief stakeholders on all aspects of supply capability and industry trends and incorporate these learnings into market engagements
* Lead sourcing events and support contract management activities across complex, high‑impact procurement projects determining evaluation criteria, contract clauses and negotiation positions
* Advise on contract model selection (design and construct, EPC etc) and articulate the trade offs
* Develop long term supply strategies that align equipment, software and reporting where possible across microgrids, BESS and SAPS projects to reduce complexity
* Champion procurement governance by promoting compliance with policies, probity and legislative requirements
* Identify, assess and proactively manage procurement‑related risks, including commercial, compliance, supplier and strategic risks
* Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and forecast future procurement needs, supporting forward planning and demand visibility
* Mentor, coach and develop procurement capability across teams and stakeholders, fostering a culture of collaboration and commercial excellence
* Promote and demonstrate behaviours that support safety, ethical conduct, respect, equity, diversity and inclusion
About You
You are an experienced procurement professional with strong commercial acumen and a proven ability to partner effectively with engineering and commercial stakeholders in complex, asset‑intensive environments. You have experience working closely with engineering teams and can develop credibility and trust.
You have experience in new and developing technologies and have an intellectual curiosity about the innovations driving the energy transition. You can learn quickly and can effectively communicate to stakeholders a situation analysis of the rapidly changing industry and incorporate these insights into strategic supply planning. In response to a rapidly developing business area, you bring a pragmatic approach to procurement governance.
Required Qualifications
* Bachelor Degree in Business Management, Engineering, Commerce, Procurement, Supply Chain or demonstrated equivalent capability through experience and/or relevant qualifications
Desirable Qualifications
* Member, or eligibility for membership, of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS)
Experience and Skills
* Substantial experience in procurement roles within energy, infrastructure or other asset‑intensive industries
* Strong knowledge of best‑practice procurement methodologies, systems and trends
* Proven experience leading complex sourcing and contract management activities
* High level commercial acumen with the ability to use data to drive business outcomes
* Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence outcomes across diverse groups
* Experience working with ERP systems, preferably Oracle Cloud Procurement
* Strong leadership, mentoring and change management capability
* Clear, logical and pragmatic approach to procurement compliance and decision‑making
Why Essential Energy
Essential Energy provides employees with a broad range of employee benefits through our corporate partnerships with organisations such as Qantas, Optus, NIB and Mildura Health Fund. You will also gain access to our Health and Wellbeing programs including fitness passport. Visit our employee benefits page for more information.
We are proud to be recognised as a WORK180 Endorsed Employer for All Women .
An energy network doesn't just keep the lights on — it's a living system that must adapt to new and emerging technologies while continuing to meet customer needs. At Essential Energy, your expertise will directly contribute to building a more sustainable, resilient and commercially strong energy network for the future.
For further information, please contact Dave Saliba on .
Applications close on Monday 2 February 2026 at 11:55pm AEST.
Passionate people. Global thinking. Regional heart. Building a better energy future.
Essential Energy is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourages applicants to apply regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
As an organisation, our aim is to champion inclusivity in the workplace and celebrate the difference in all our employees.
At Essential Energy, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. To discuss adjustment requirements, please contact or call us on
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