Portfolio Category Manager Engineering & Construction

A Snapshot

As an Engineering and Construction Portfolio Category Manager based in our HQ in Sydney, you will report to the Director, Procurement – Strategy & Innovation and work closely with various teams and leadership across the Asia Pacific region, making your mark in a number of ways:

You will be the strategic leader responsible for developing and executing the category strategies for critical engineering and construction categories, including design consultants, contractors, general contractors, and high-value equipment. You will drive category management excellence, ensuring that our procurement processes are aligned with business goals, optimising supplier relationships, and delivering maximum value to AirTrunk. You will have a significant impact on the company’s growth by ensuring that all engineering and construction procurement activities are strategically planned and flawlessly executed, enabling the successful delivery of large-scale data center projects across the region.

Your Day to Day

• Develop and Implement Category Strategies: Lead the creation and execution of comprehensive category strategies for engineering and construction services, including design consultants, contractors, general contractors, long-lead equipment, and high-voltage equipment. Ensure alignment with AirTrunk’s overall business objectives and regional expansion plans.
• Supplier Portfolio Management: Build and manage a high-performing portfolio of suppliers. Continuously evaluate and segment suppliers to ensure that AirTrunk is partnering with the best-in-class providers capable of supporting our rapid growth.
• Supplier Lifecycle Management: Oversee the end-to-end supplier lifecycle for your categories, including supplier selection, RFP/RFQ processes, negotiation, and contract execution. Ensure all contracts are structured to deliver optimal value and mitigate risks.
• Spend Analysis and Optimisation: Conduct regular spend analysis to identify cost-saving opportunities, drive efficiencies, and enhance value creation within your categories. Leverage data and insights to refine sourcing strategies and improve decision-making.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with internal stakeholders, including engineering, construction, finance, and operations teams, to understand project requirements and ensure category strategies meet their needs. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to drive alignment and successful project execution.
• Supplier Performance Management: Implement and manage supplier performance metrics (KPIs) to ensure that suppliers meet or exceed AirTrunk’s expectations. Conduct regular Supplier Business Reviews (SBRs) to drive continuous improvement and address any performance issues.
• Risk Management: Proactively identify and manage risks within your categories, including supply chain disruptions, market volatility, and regulatory changes. Develop and implement mitigation strategies to ensure business continuity.
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Lead initiatives to innovate within the category management function, exploring new sourcing approaches, technologies, and processes that can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve outcomes.
• Tender Execution: Responsible for the execution of tenders within assigned categories, from initiation to contract award. Ensure all tender processes comply with internal policies and align with project timelines. Provide guidance and support to new joiners during tender processes.
• Procurement Process Oversight and Improvement: Consulted by the Procurement Manager on overall procurement processes and systems. Work with the Procurement Manager to identify areas for process automation and improvement within your category, contributing to the efficiency of the procurement lifecycle.
• Collaboration and Communication: Collaborate with the Procurement Manager, project teams, and other departments to ensure category strategies are well-integrated into the broader procurement plan. Communicate effectively with stakeholders to ensure alignment and support for category initiatives.
• Sustainability Initiatives: Responsible for implementing and promoting sustainable procurement practices within your categories, aligning with the company’s sustainability goals. Collaborate with suppliers to reduce environmental impact and enhance social responsibility.

Requirements

• 7+ years of relevant experience in pre-construction project management, procurement, category management, or contract negotiation, with a focus on engineering and construction.
• Equivalent experience in construction and management of procurement strategies, tendering frameworks and standard methodology, including experience in contract negotiations across different regions throughout APJ.
• Equivalent experience with strategic sourcing of major equipment for data center projects.
• Data centre/tier 1 construction experience is a huge plus, coupled with experience across the APAC/APJ region.
• Commercial experience in procurement and delivery of complex and high-value contracts.
• Experience with practical application of commercial principles in data centre/construction/mission critical industries; strong business intuition to solve complex procurement and commercial issues.
• In-depth knowledge of procurement models.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and can communicate and influence at senior levels.
• Outstanding team management and time management skills.
• Resilient and proactive with the ability to work at pace in an evolving and demanding environment.