The Opportunity The Deputy Director, Category Management is a senior leadership role within Strategic Procurement, responsible for shaping, governing, and delivering University-wide category and supplier portfolio strategies that align with the University's strategic objectives.
This position provides thought leadership in category management, taking a holistic view of high-value third-party spend to maximise value, drive innovation, and support long-term priorities.
The role ensures procurement activities and supplier partnerships are strategically coordinated, embedding best-practice approaches and delivering measurable benefits across faculties, portfolios, and the broader University Group.
The position will play a critical role in aligning leading procurement practices across the University and Controlled Entities across the Monash Group.
This position will be responsible for leading the design and execution of integrated category portfolio and management strategies, including overseeing significant supplier categories and contracts to deliver value, innovation, and sustainable outcomes.
The Deputy Director will provide commercial leadership and oversight of negotiations, acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders and guiding decision-making through insights on spend, market trends, and risk.
The role will also champion category-wide initiatives, including sustainability, supplier diversity, digital enablement, and risk mitigation, while embedding best-practice category management processes across the University.
In addition, it will monitor performance metrics, implement robust supplier strategies, and lead a high-performing team that fosters professional growth, accountability, and continuous improvement.
To be successful in this role, you will have postgraduate qualifications or extensive senior management experience, with proven expertise in high-value and high-risk category management within complex organisations.
You will demonstrate exceptional commercial and procurement management skills, strategic thinking, and a record of delivering successful procurement initiatives from design to implementation.
Strong negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and influencing skills are essential, alongside people leadership experience in building high-performing teams.
Knowledge of Australian procurement standards, advanced analytical and research capabilities, and the ability to deliver innovative solutions will be critical.
Accreditation with the Chartered Institute of Procurement