About this opportunity

Yarra Trams requires a Category Manager to assist in maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, developing, and implementing sourcing strategies across the organization, and managing risks across the supply chain. Reporting to the Strategic Procurement Manager this role will:

• Lead and resolve day-to-day operational matters related to procurement
• Provide leadership and direction in the technology category, including supply market management and development, strategic planning and execution, commercial negotiation, and risk management activities, to meet business needs.
• Fully realise opportunities to deliver best value for money outcomes that safeguard Yarra Trams’ commercial interests and functional budgets.
• Identify and manage commercial, contractual, operational, financial, reputational, ethical and supply chain risks to minimise negative impact to the business.
• Lead negotiations on high impact, complex supply arrangements and contracts to deliver better commercial outcomes.
• Provide expert advice to key stakeholders on all aspects of procurement and commercial issues, to encourage innovative practices and support delivery of business and policy directions.
• Lead and manage the relationship with suppliers, promoting collaboration, reducing risks and capitalising on opportunities through innovation.
• Ensure contracts are fit for purpose by engaging with key stakeholders, and always with the contract management and legal teams.
• Support the contract management team in commercial negotiations and continuously seek inputs from them relating to supplier performance when setting up category, sourcing and SRM strategies.

About you

Ideally you will have:

• Tertiary qualifications, preferrable in Law, Procurement or Commerce, or an MBA
• Extensive procurement management responsibility experience with quantifiable results in complex sourcing strategies, category management, contract negotiation, and supplier relationship management.
• Experience implementing change management strategies and plans that maximize employee adoption and usage and minimize resistance.
• Ability to drive faster adoption, higher ultimate utilization of and proficiency in procurement. 
• Outstanding leadership skills: inspiring interpersonal effectiveness to lead teams, train talent and implement change; willing and able to be a “doer” and “influencer”.
• Ability to articulate thoughts into clear and concise written and verbal communication.
• Demonstrated negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to liaise effectively with all levels of the organization and external suppliers.

Application close: 23 January 2026