About us

The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone's experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government. We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses. We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services. 

About the role

We have an opportunity for an individual to join us as Senior Category Manager (Construction Procurement) on a 12-month fixed term basis.

The Senior Category Manager (Construction Procurement) works within the Accommodation, Carpools, Libraries Services (ACLS) team which delivers property, carpool and library services to clients across the Victorian Government, including Victorian Government departments and a range of agencies.

The Corporate and Commercial Team is the centre for expertise within ACLS and provides support and advice to functional lead senior managers and directors within ACLS on construction procurement strategies and processes. The Construction Procurement stream works with ACLS work streams to ensure timely procurement in compliance with Ministerial Directions and department guidelines.

Reporting to the Director, Corporate and Commercial, the Senior Category Manager will oversee and implement strategic ACLS procurement activities and procurement for construction projects, working in close collaboration with the Senior Procurement Advisor and Procurement Officers.

This role plays a key liaison point with the Department's central Government Procurement division, enabling compliance and strategic alignment with the Department's general procurement policy framework.

Key Accountabilities include:

• As a senior member of the team, providing strategic, tactical and governance support to procurement staff, which may include direct leadership of a team where you will be expected to lead, inspire and increase the capability of the team members in facilitating and developing procurement practice and data analytics
• Developing, implementing, operationalising and ensuring ongoing maintenance of high-quality, standard construction procurement procedures, tools and templates aligned to the Ministerial Directions for Construction Projects, ACLS Procurement policy framework, in support of effective and efficient procurement outcomes.
• Leading complex Victorian government construction projects including requirements gathering, business case development, tender preparation, evaluation, supplier negotiation and implementation whilst collaboratively engaging with key stakeholders to deliver effective procurement outcomes.
• Effectively applying government procurement policies and legislative requirements to develop and implement complex category management strategies that deliver value for money outcomes including probity and transparency as well as the application of Victoria's Social Procurement Framework.
• Developing effective and collaborative relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders including senior management, departmental colleagues, Chief Procurement Officers and other key staff from government departments, suppliers and industry bodies.

Please refer to the position description for further details.

About you

To be considered for the role, you must be able to demonstrate:

• Strong leadership skills and understanding of best practice procurement practices and broad experience in developing and implementing procurement procedures, templates and tools that support the delivery of effective procurement outcomes.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge and experience in construction procurement, compliance, policy development, contract review and risk management practices and methodologies, preferably in a Victorian Government context.
• Extensive experience in the development and implementation of procurement procedures for complex construction projects and the management of significant construction contracts, including maintaining effective supplier relationships, undertaking commercial analysis to support decision-making, management of risk and maximising value for money outcomes
• Demonstrated experience in planning and executing high-value and complex commercial negotiations using a variety of techniques to deliver optimal commercial and contractual outcomes that realise sustainable value for both the buyer and the supplier organisations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with proven ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and build collaborative and effective relationships to deliver outstanding procurement outcomes.
• High-level analytical and conceptual skills with the ability to deliver innovative solutions to resolve complex problems.
• Tertiary qualifications in a related discipline and/or significant experience in a similar role will be highly regarded.
• Extensive knowledge of Victorian Government procurement policies for Construction procurement will be highly regarded

How to apply

Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm  1st May 2024. All applications should include:

• a resume; and
• a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria (within three pages)

 Other relevant information

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees and clients and consistent with the department's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OH&S Act), to support this DGS has a COVID-19 Vaccination policy which strongly recommends all DGS employees be fully vaccinated.

This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

Preferred candidates will be required to complete a Pre-employment Declaration and Consent Form. Employment of successful candidates will be subject to a National Police Check.

DGS actively promotes diversity, inclusion, and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All roles in DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.