About the role DroneShield is seeking a Head of Procurement with relevant experience to join the team in Sydney, NSW. The position will report to the Chief Operating Officer. The Head of Procurement is accountable for the evaluation, selection and on-boarding of all suppliers up to and including contract award, ensuring the organisation has reliable access to high quality suppliers, components, capabilities, and services required to meet delivery, quality and compliance commitments. This role leads and develops a team of category managers and establishes procurement practices that balance speed, resilience, risk management and innovation. Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations Supply Network Strategy & Resilience Define and execute a global procurement strategy aligned with manufacturing scale‑up, technology roadmaps, and compliance requirements. Build a resilient, multi‑tier supply network that mitigates supply, geopolitical, regulatory, and capacity risks. Ensure critical components and capabilities are sourced with appropriate redundancy and flexibility. Actively manage supplier concentration and single‑source exposure. Supplier Evaluation & Selection Lead robust supplier evaluation and qualification processes for: Contract manufacturers Tier 1 and other critical component suppliers Indirect and shared‑service suppliers Ensure suppliers meet technical, quality, delivery, security, and compliance requirements. Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to assess supplier capability and readiness. Procurement Execution & Contract Award Own all procurement activities through to contract award, including sourcing strategy, negotiation, and approval. Ensure contracts support delivery certainty, scalability, IP protection, regulatory compliance, and long‑term value. Balance commercial outcomes with delivery risk and operational criticality. Ensure clarity of scope, performance obligations, and risk allocation in all supplier agreements. Category Management Leadership Lead and develop a high‑performing team of category managers across: Contract manufacturing Tier 1 critical suppliers Indirect procurement Establish clear category strategies aligned to business priorities and risk profiles. Ensure consistent sourcing, evaluation, and contracting standards across categories. Risk, Compliance & Governance Ensure procurement activities comply with defence, export control, security, and ethical sourcing requirements. Work closely with Legal, Quality, Security, and HSE to ensure suppliers meet regulatory and contractual obligations. Establish clear governance, approval frameworks, and escalation pathways for procurement decisions. Performance & Continuous Improvement Define and track procurement KPIs covering delivery performance, supplier risk, responsiveness, and commercial outcomes. Drive continuous improvement in sourcing speed, supplier reliability, and cross‑functional collaboration. Use data and insight to proactively address emerging supply risks. Measures of Success On‑time availability of all critical components and services Reduced supply disruption and improved resilience Strong supplier performance and collaboration Procurement cycles that support fast operational execution Contracts that balance cost, risk, compliance, and scalability Procurement recognised as a strategic enabler of delivery and innovation Qualifications, Experience and Skills Senior procurement or supply chain leadership experience in high‑tech manufacturing Experience operating in regulated or defence‑adjacent environments Proven capability managing strategic suppliers and contract manufacturers Experience leading category management teams Engineering, supply chain, or commercial qualifications Experience with global supply networks and geopolitical risk Exposure to scale‑up or rapid growth manufacturing environments Note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters unless specifically instructed.
