**Category Specialist**
**About Austal**
Austal Ships is a leading global shipbuilder and defence contractor with a rich history of delivering innovative maritime solutions. Renowned for our commitment to excellence, Austal has been at the forefront of ship design, construction, and support for over three decades. Our cutting-edge vessels, ranging from high-speed ferries to complex naval ships, showcase our dedication to pushing the boundaries of maritime technology.
Security Clearance roles only: Due to the Security Clearance required for this, applicants must be an Australian Citizen and eligible to obtain and uphold a Baseline Security Clearance.
**About the position**
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**Key objectives & responsibilities include**:
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- Identify, develop, and maintain relationships with suppliers to service categories.
- Conduct continuous reviews of suppliers available in the market and market conditions influencing categories.
- Engage with internal stakeholders to identify business needs.
- Identify areas of improvement in business practices, supplier engagement, and contract terms.
- Control supplier engagement within the business, acting as the single point of contact for commercial discussions.
- Integrate ESG factors into the supplier engagement strategy to promote sustainability and ethical practices.
**Required Skills / Experience / Attributes**:
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- Tertiary level qualifications in Procurement, Supply Chain, Contractual Law, Engineering, or relevant area
- Ability to analyse procurement data and develop a supplier engagement strategy that delivers sustainable procurement practise
- Excellent influencing and negotiation skills
- Excellent relationship building and stakeholder management skills
- Working experience using procurement functions in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) environment, preferably IFS
**Desirable**:
- 10+ years of Supply Chain/Procurement experience
- CIPS qualifications in category management
- Experience managing indirects
- Experience in the Defence or Maritime/Shipbuilding industry, or equivalent
**Why Austal**:
- Competitive compensation and benefits package.
- Professional development and training opportunities.
- A supportive and dynamic work environment.
- Opportunities for career advancement within our growing organisation.
**What's on Offer?**
- Located in Perth
- Permanent salaried position
- Nine-day fortnight with an RDO every second Friday
- Salary Sacrificing, Novated Leasing, Retailer discount, EAP, Insurance discounts.
Our global team is guided by a universal set of values that describe the focus of our efforts. Our goal is for all our decisions and actions to reflect these core values. We believe that putting our values into practice creates the greatest benefits for our shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers, and communities in which we serve.
Excellence - Customer Focus - Integrity - Team Work
At Austal we are committed to providing a secure and inclusive work environment for all. We believe that achieving greater diversity will enhance our operations and as such we actively encourage Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders, people of all backgrounds, ages, sexual orientation, and those with Disability to apply.