Category Manager ICT

• Department: Category Management

• Reports to: Director, Procurement

• Location: Sydney CBD

• Type: Permanent (Full-time or Part-time)

The Category Manager owns and manages a portfolio of procurement categories, leading end-to-end category strategy, contract development, market engagement, and commercial performance. The role ensures LGP delivers high-quality contracts, strong supplier relationships, and value to NSW councils.

The Category Manager plays a central role in shaping how Local Government Procurement (LGP) delivers value to councils across New South Wales. Responsible for a defined portfolio of categories, the position brings leadership, commercial acumen, and sector expertise to the full lifecycle of procurement and contract management. At its core, the role exists to ensure that councils can access high-quality, reliable, and competitively priced contracts that meet their operational needs while advancing LGP’s commitment to best practice procurement.

Working closely with the Director of Procurement and the broader Contracts Team, the Category Manager leads the strategic direction of their category portfolio. This includes developing long-term category and portfolio strategies, interpreting complex market dynamics, and identifying emerging opportunities that can enhance LGP’s product offering. The role requires a strong command of procurement planning, tender governance, and contract oversight, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that each contract is designed, executed, and managed to the highest possible standard.

A large component of the role involves end-to-end ownership of tender activity. The Category Manager shapes procurement plans, develops key documentation, and partners with the Contracts Team to ensure that tenders are executed with transparency, probity, and efficiency. Once suppliers are selected, the role continues as the commercial steward of contract performance, resolving issues, encouraging ongoing value creation, and ensuring delivery aligns with the expectations of both LGP and participating councils.

Stakeholder engagement is fundamental to success. The Category Manager builds strong, trusted relationships with councils, suppliers, contractors, and industry bodies, acting as a visible representative of LGP’s purpose and values. Whether working alongside the Supplier Relationship Management team, presenting to customers, or guiding suppliers through performance expectations, the role helps foster an environment of collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement across the supply chain.

Data and commercial insight remain essential components of the position. The Category Manager regularly analyses contract performance, market behaviour, and revenue outcomes to inform decision-making and support organisational goals. This includes maintaining a disciplined approach to governance, reporting, risk management, and compliance, all of which are critical given LGP’s role as a procurement leader within the local government sector.

As part of LGP’s leadership community, the Category Manager also contributes to the development of others, supporting colleagues through coaching, knowledge-sharing and operational guidance. In doing so, the role helps build a high performing, engaged team that reflects LGP’s values of integrity, collaboration, and innovation.

Key Challenges

• Managing multiple concurrent tenders and contracts.

• Balancing competing stakeholder expectations.

• Ensuring full compliance while maintaining efficiency and timeliness.

  
  

Qualifications & Experience

• Qualifications in Procurement, Supply Chain, Commerce, Business or related discipline; or equivalent experience.

• Strong category management experience, ideally in government, construction, mining, manufacturing or industrial services.

• Proven track record delivering complex, high-value procurement projects.

• Experience with panel contracts, cross-functional environments, and contractor performance management.

• Negotiation training and (preferably) membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., CIPS, AAPCM).

  
  

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong contract and supplier management skills.

• Analytical, data-driven decision-making ability.

• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Ability to manage priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• High proficiency in Microsoft Office.