Procurement Manager

At the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), we’re building something extraordinary—not just in science and engineering, but in the way we work together. Our procurement team plays a central role in turning vision into reality, ensuring that every contract, partnership, and purchase supports our mission to build and operate the world’s most advanced radio telescopes.

In Australia, SKAO is collaborating with CSIRO, the national science agency, to support the construction and operations of the SKA-Low Telescope. The SKA-Low Procurement Manager will be the senior in‑country representative for Procurement Services, leading and shaping procurement strategy whilst ensuring both local and global procurement activity is compliant with the SKAO’s defined policies and procedures.

The Role

In this role, you will lead procurement planning and delivery, working closely with senior stakeholders, international research organisations, suppliers, and the wider procurement team. You will lead the SKAO Procurement Team in Australia responsible for overall team performance and development, with direct line management of a small team.

You will bring a strong combination of commercial acumen, strategic insight, and leadership, ensuring that every contract, partnership, and procurement activity aligns with SKAO’s mission, values and Procurement Policy and Manual. You will oversee the end‑to‑end procurement of various contracts, both high and low value and complexity, ensuring compliance, transparency, and demonstrable value for money.

The role requires strategic leadership and is expected to drive forward broader procurement initiatives that help to champion SKAO’s values and support the transition from a focus on high‑value, complex construction and engineering contracts towards a high‑volume transactional procurement environment. SKAO is about to implement Proactis as its sourcing, supplier relationship management and contract management software, to enable greater efficiency of low‑value, high‑volume procurement actions and as a senior team member you will be required to ensure the effective rollout and adoption.

As a senior member of the SKAO procurement function, you will champion continuous improvement, contribute to the development of procurement policies and frameworks, and support the professional growth of team members. You will promote best practice in supplier engagement, tendering, and contract management, supporting SKAO’s commitment to excellence, collaboration, and sustainability.

The role plays a key part in managing SKAO’s external stakeholders, with key contact points being the SKAO Member countries’ Industry Liaison Officers, government departments and major government funded research bodies. SKAO’s procurement practices must take into account the social and economic return to its Member countries. The ideal candidate would therefore have experience within procurement for large‑scale science or research infrastructure projects, or significant international engineering or construction projects involving government funding.

Based at the SKAO Office in Geraldton or Perth, Australia this role may include occasional national and international travel to suppliers and SKAO sites (typically for one week, a couple of times per year). This role will require a minimum of quarterly travel to Geraldton, if the successful candidate is based in Perth.