INTERNAL ONLY - PRINCIPAL CATEGORY SPECIALIST in Brisbane

Salary Range: Band 8 $150,432 - $162,791 + Superannuation (Remuneration stated is for the full-time positions)

Work type: 2x Temporary full-time positions

Duration: Up to 3 years (Extension/s thereafter but not guaranteed).

The Team

Strategic Procurement focuses on efficient sourcing, purchasing, contract management and supply chain strategies. The ICT Procurement team leads the sourcing and commercial management of Council's technology and digital services portfolio. The team supports a broad range of categories including software and applications, cloud and hosting services, cyber security, ICT infrastructure, telecommunications, technology consulting, and managed service arrangements. The team is structured across several category portfolios, each responsible for developing category strategies, managing key supplier relationships, and supporting critical technology roles work closely with stakeholders across Council to deliver strategic procurement outcomes, drive innovation, manage supplier performance, and ensure technology investments support Council's long-term objectives.

The Role

This key leadership role is responsible for driving strategic procurement and category management outcomes across high-risk, high-value contracts and critical supplier relationships. Leading and mentoring a team of category professionals, you will work closely with stakeholders to deliver strategic sourcing, spend and financial analysis, demand and contract management, and supplier relationship initiatives. You will also contribute to procurement policy and lead the development and implementation of category plans that deliver sustainable value-for-money outcomes for Council.

Some of your day-to-day responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership across procurement and category management activities
• Develop and implement category, sourcing, and contract management strategies
• Partner with stakeholders to deliver value-for-money procurement outcomes
• Drive supplier performance, innovation, and value chain optimisation initiatives
• Manage commercial and supply risks across key spend categories
• Lead procurement planning, spend analysis, and demand management programs
• Foster a high-performance, customer-focused culture through coaching and mentoring
• Build procurement capability and promote continuous improvement and best practice across Council.

To be successful you will have:

• Demonstrated evidence of capabilities in Council's Leadership Blueprint to deliver performance excellence and a values-based culture.
• Strong experience in category management, strategic sourcing, and contract management within large, complex organisations
• Advanced analytical and commercial skills, including data analysis, financial evaluation, and strategic decision-making
• Experience driving customer-focused outcomes through stakeholder engagement, value chain optimisation, and supplier innovation
• Excellent communication, negotiation, influencing, and relationship management skills
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage complex issues and sensitive matters effectively
• Sound knowledge of procurement and contract law, with the ability to balance commercial, operational, and stakeholder outcomes.

Tertiary qualifications in Procurement, Commerce, Business, Logistics or a related discipline, and/or MCIPS accreditation, demonstrated ability to interpret legislative and regulatory requirements, and sound product knowledge of the relevant category area are desirable but not mandatory.

Benefits of working for Council include:

• Flexible working hours, and flexible arrangements
• Free gym and wellness centre
• Award winning superannuation fund
• Generous leave provisions

*Eligibility for internal only roles includes external applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and/or as a person living with a disability. Applicants from these groups are required to complete the diversity and inclusion questions on the application form to enable Council to determine eligibility.

This role will require a Criminal History Check.

For more information: Please call Cassandra Lee on 07 3403 0***.

People from diverse backgrounds, including those living with a disability and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who may have questions about the recruitment process or working at Council, are encouraged to reach out to the contact above, who can connect you with a member of Council's Diversity and Inclusion team.

Application Closing Date: Thursday 27 August 2026 at 11:55pm AEST.

Brisbane City Council is a multi-award winning accessible and inclusive workplace where our people represent the diverse communities we serve, are supported, and can feel safe. Council has been awarded Employer of the Year at the National Disability Awards and has been recognised multiple times with 'Gold Employer' status from the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTI inclusion.

Council and its employees must follow the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 (Qld) and the Code of Conduct. This means employees are expected to act with honesty, fairness, and always prioritise the public interest over personal or private gain. The Code of Conduct requires employees to openly disclose any other work they do outside of Council — including paid or unpaid employment, operating their own business or volunteering in certain circumstances — and to manage any conflicts of interest or other risks (such as fatigue) in a way that puts the public interest first. Maintaining employment outside Council does not preclude you from being considered for roles within Council.