Who we are

In Melbourne, water is essential to our way of life.

As caretakers for Melbourne’s water cycle, we care for water, life and land throughout Melbourne: both its people and its biodiversity.

Each time you drink from the tap, flush a toilet, run through a backyard sprinkler, or kayak down the Yarra—we’re there. Primed and ready, quietly delivering some of the world’s cleanest water for over five million residents and wildlife that call Melbourne home —just as we have for over 130 years.

If you value making it count, diving in with curiosity, and doing what’s right, you're in the right place.

About the Role

Reporting to Winter Chan, Procurement Manager – Categories, this is a pivotal role within the Procurement team. The team performs a strategic planning function at the start of a procurement lifecycle, and we are a conduit between the business and procurement.

As the Category Manager – MRO, you will be championing your portfolio by challenging the possibilities of the category, conduct deep dives to understand the landscape and maximise commercial outcomes by identifying the optimal market engagement strategy.

To be successful in the role, you must have expert commercial acumen, category management experience and an understanding of contractual terms and negotiating levers. At a high level you will:

• Develop and manage category management across the MRO categories in order to identify and maximise addressable spend procurement efficiencies, value generation, and market insight strategy for the procurement process, and to build the overall effectiveness of the Procurement and Contract Management function
• Act as the business partner and proactively build and maintain stakeholder relationships (internal & external)
• Contribute to the development and management of the annual and 5-year (Price Determination) procurement strategic opportunities plan for the MRO categories.
• Work in collaboration with the Sourcing Delivery team and Contract team to maximise commercial considerations to support procurement sourcing and contract management and performance activity

This role does not require you to perform the sourcing functions. It focuses is on market analysis, strategic planning and optimising category strategies.

For more information about the role, please refer to the attached Role Mandate 

About you:

• This role essentially is a business partner between Procurement and each business area related to the MRO categories of spend. For this reason, a regular day will consist of:  
  • continuous stakeholder engagement - building effective relationships with suppliers and internal staff
  • communication – running consultations with the business, clarifying, managing expectations
  • analysis – you will hit the ground running applying your expert commercial acumen, analytical and market research capabilities, developing strategies and determining path to market
• Our team is relatively new; the category management team is a greenfield function within procurement and you will join a supportive team culture. We welcome a new team member who aspires to do their best every day with a growth mindset; and add to the team’s current reputation of a strong work ethic and customer focus,  being committed to the plan) and delivering to a high standard. 
• Ideally, you have an understanding of the public sector and the mandatory procurement requirements under the Victorian Government Purchasing Board and the application of Ministerial Directions. If you do not have this knowledge, we will help you to get up to speed.  

Why join us:

At Melbourne Water, we care about water and all life that springs from it.

Our people are fuelled by passion, and with safety at the forefront, we have an unwavering sense of purpose, and are on a mission to protect every Melburnian’s way of life, one drop at a time.

We walk the talk when it comes to flexible working – but that’s not all. Our culture of purpose, safety, results, and learning permeates everything we do. We're dedicated to doing what's right, and this commitment extends to the meaningful work we do in a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages you to make the most of your talents.

Our long-standing commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, people living with disability, mature age and young jobseekers from all cultures can apply with confidence knowing they are safe, affirmed, and celebrated.

If you’re curious, action-orientated, outcomes-focused, and care deeply for public resources, community, and the environment, we'd love to receive an application and learn if you could be a great fit.

How to Apply

Click the 'Apply Now' button below and complete our online application form.

Closing date: Tuesday 3rd February 2025 at 11:55pm AEST