About Southern Ports Southern Ports operates the gateway ports of Albany, Bunbury, and Esperance, connecting regional WA to global markets. We focus on safe, efficient, and sustainable port operations, delivering value to our customers and communities. With a strong commitment to our people, we’re building a diverse, high-performing workforce to support the future of regional trade. Benefits of Joining Southern Ports Joining Southern Ports Authority comes with numerous benefits that cater to a wide range of professional and personal needs, some examples being: Flexible Working Arrangements: Enjoy a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle and personal commitments. Annual Health and Well-being Benefits: Take advantage of programs and resources aimed at maintaining your physical and mental health. Salary Sacrificing Options: Maximise your take-home pay through tailored salary packaging arrangements such as Novated Car Leasing and Superannuation Opportunity to Travel: Experience different geographical regions in Western Australia, enhancing your professional and personal growth. Generous Purchase Leave Options: Gain additional leave options to suit your personal needs and preferences. Salary: $172,356 superannuation regional allowance if based regionally. The Role Southern Ports is seeking an experienced Senior Category Specialist to lead procurement and contracting activities across operations, maintenance, and indirect spend categories on a two-year fixed-term basis. This role is responsible for driving strategic procurement outcomes, managing supplier and contract performance, and providing leadership and direction to a high-performing team. Working closely with internal stakeholders, you will support operational objectives while ensuring procurement activities are delivered in line with company policies, governance requirements, and Southern Ports’ values. Key Duties and Responsibilities Lead category management and procurement strategies across operations, maintenance, and indirect spend categories. Oversee sourcing, tendering, contract award, and ongoing contract management activities. Manage and support the procurement and purchasing team to deliver high-quality procurement outcomes. Build strong stakeholder and supplier relationships to improve service delivery, value, and supply chain performance. Ensure compliance with procurement policies, governance requirements, and WA Government reporting obligations. Support D365 system implementation, testing, training, and continuous improvement initiatives. Required Degree qualification in business, commerce, legal, quantity surveying, or a related field. Minimum 10 years’ experience in a similar procurement or contracts role. Strong experience in contract negotiation, management, and close-out activities. Knowledge of ERP systems, Procure to Pay processes, and category management principles. Experience leading high-performing teams and driving change initiatives. Understanding of asset management, supply chain, inventory, and warehouse operations. Preferred Proven experience applying category management principles, tools and techniques for allocated procurement categories. Successfully developed, executed and managed category and sourcing strategies Knowledge of asset management and operations category scopes and markets. Knowledge of indirects categories and markets. Knowledge of forms of contract and commercial models supporting asset management and operations. Knowledge of forms of contract and commercial models for allocated categories. Proven contract administration skills (asset management and operations) including management of claims, variations, change requests, milestone payments, and contract securities Knowledge of ISO55001 Asset Management accreditation in relation to Supply Chain activities. To see the Position Description for this role, please copy and paste the below link into your browser: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ijbpa93jak9qisqrh84ej/PD-Senior-Cat-Specialist-Maintenance-Ops-Indirects.pdf?rlkey=cctn7jt42f2we821c0v67zi51&st=b1p3eqr7&dl=0 To see the Employment Agreement for this role, please copy and paste the below link into your browser: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nk13gkc9vfpfjhocv8j1z/Southern-Ports-Administration-and-Specialist-Agreement.pdf?rlkey=5exe76owfkh4gh7jk79zdew5y&st=u32za9yo&dl=0 Requirements To apply, please submit your application through our advertisement. Ensure you include an up-to-date resume. To be eligible for this role, applicants must reside either Perth, Bunbury, Albany or Esperance and provide proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency. The successful applicant must: · Have a current Western Australian driver’s licence · Be able to obtain and maintain a Maritime Security Identification Card · Pass a pre-employment medical assessment including drug and alcohol testing · Provide a National Police Certificate that is within a 6-month period. Southern Ports is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against race, gender, age, religion, sexual preference or disability. We encourage applications from all culturally diverse backgrounds, Indigenous Australians and Non-Indigenous Australians. Southern Ports is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and impartial workplace with equal opportunities for all employees. Applications close: COB 16 June 2026 We reserve the right to commence the recruitment process during the application period.
