Senior Category Specialist
Location: Parramatta
Employment type: Ongoing Full Time
Salary: Clerk Grade 9/10 ($129,464 - $142,665 pa), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
Your role
The Senior Category Specialist role will be working in the Human Services Category Management team in Procurement. In this role you will partner with stakeholders in the Human Services category to plan, develop, source, and manage procurement arrangements to effectively meet organisational and business objectives.
What you’ll do
As part of the Strategic Procurement team within Corporate Services, you will be responsible for but not limited to:
* Engage and advise key stakeholders on policies, procedures, systems, and standards to enable them to deliver effective, outcomes-focused procurement activities across the organisation
* Partner with key business stakeholders to develop innovative procurement and category management strategies to meet specific business needs, manage risk and deliver value for money.
* Analyse business needs, commercial risks, and supply markets to inform category planning and sourcing
* Develop, co-ordinate and lead sourcing activities to establish supply arrangements (service provision) that deliver human service outcomes
Provide governance, advice, and guidance to internal stakeholders to build expertise in procurement and procurement categories across the organisation.
You will be working in the Human Services Category Management team in Procurement reporting directly to the Human Services Manager, working with a team of highly focussed and supportive colleagues.
It is a fast-paced environment where you be able to work in a hybrid work arrangement, with 50% of time working from Paramatta Square, and the other 50% of the time working from home.
What we’re looking for
We are looking for someone with a high-level capability to hit the ground running and a can-do attitude to provide procurement advice on Human Services procurements within the Department. You will have a strong focus on customer service, can advise on all levels of procurement including planning, procurement strategy, market analysis, and risk. A key component of this position is being able to put together tender documentation with strong attention to detail. Ideally you can demonstrate strong capability and experience working with varied stakeholders across DCJ and government.
Our ideal candidate:
* You’re a motivated procurement or category management specialist preferably with experience in human services.
* You possess excellent stakeholder management skills, including Executive-level engagement.
* You’re able to work with minimal supervision, on numerous projects, simultaneously.
* You have at least 5 years working at a Grade 9/10 or equivalent level and able to lead on projects with stakeholders.
* You’re able to balance competing deadlines on time critical projects.
* You have the ability to navigate applicable procurement policies and procedures and provide advice to stakeholders to achieve the procurement outcomes in a compliant way.
* You can deliver outcomes with high attention to detail.
Essential requirements of the role
Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent experience being involved in developing procurement documentation and tender completions is highly regarded.
Download the role description.
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 Monday, 23rd March 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 Melissa Naylor, Manager, Human Services on 0417 169 075 or at
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 (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Sarah Nguyen on 02 9765 5046 or via
Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.
Inclusion and Diversity lies 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.
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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.