Category Lead

Location: Brisbane | Hybrid

Remuneration/Benefit: Negotiable

An exciting opportunity has become available for an experienced Category Lead to join Aurizon's Procurement & Enterprise Services team on a 2-year fixed-term contract.

Following an internal promotion within the team, we're seeking a commercially astute procurement professional who thrives on delivering strategic outcomes, leading complex projects, and partnering with senior stakeholders to influence business performance.

This role offers the opportunity to work across enterprise-wide initiatives while driving value, managing risk, and delivering best-practice procurement outcomes within the Freight & Logistics category, with a particular focus on road transport and logistics service providers.

About the Role

Reporting to the Manager, Procurement Partnering - Bulk & Containerised Freight, you will lead end-to-end strategic procurement activities across the Freight & Logistics category.

You will act as a trusted commercial partner to the business, balancing category management, supplier performance, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery. A key focus of the role will be managing strategic sourcing and commercial relationships with road transport operators, logistics contractors and associated service providers to ensure safe, efficient and commercially sustainable outcomes.

This is a highly visible role supporting multiple strategic initiatives and growth programs across the enterprise, making it ideal for someone who enjoys managing complexity, influencing outcomes and delivering value through strong commercial and procurement expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end sourcing and contract management activities, from strategy development and market engagement through to negotiation, execution and supplier performance management.
• Act as the commercial lead for the Freight & Logistics category, partnering with stakeholders to align procurement outcomes with business objectives.
• Manage sourcing, commercial negotiations and supplier relationship activities across road transport, logistics and contractor service providers.
• Drive complex procurement projects and strategic initiatives, managing multiple workstreams and competing priorities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, ensuring performance, value delivery and commercial outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to improve value, reduce risk and deliver sustainable commercial benefits.
• Champion procurement best practice and ensure compliance with corporate governance frameworks and relevant legislation.

What We're Looking For

We're interested in speaking with procurement professionals who combine strategic thinking with strong delivery capability.

You will bring:

• Experience in a Category Lead, Senior Procurement, Commercial or Consulting role within a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrated experience managing procurement and commercial outcomes across road transport, freight, logistics or contractor-based service environments.
• Strong understanding of transport operators, logistics providers and contractor markets, including sourcing, negotiation and supplier management.
• Proven experience leading complex projects and managing multiple stakeholders across competing priorities.
• Strong commercial acumen with expertise in strategic sourcing, negotiation, contract management and supplier engagement.
• The ability to influence, challenge and partner effectively with senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading teams and developing capability.
• Tertiary qualifications in Business, Commerce, Supply Chain or a related discipline.

Experience gained within a Tier 1 or Tier 2 consulting environment, particularly across procurement transformation, operating model, commercial or supply chain projects, will be highly regarded.

Why join Aurizon

• Step into a visible, trusted Category Lead role with real impact
• Gain exposure to enterprise-wide projects and strategic initiatives
• Supportive, collaborative procurement environment
• Fixed-term opportunity offering stability and scope to make your mark

What we offer you:

At Aurizon, we support the development and growth of our employees. With a national portfolio of operations, we offer long-term and exciting career opportunities. 

Some of our benefits include:

• Development and growth opportunities.
• Access to mentoring and development programs.
• Discounts on selected health insurance funds, personal travel, gyms, vehicles and retail brands.
• Parental leave program and super booster.

About Aurizon.

https://youtu.be/PHESxVZ6dQY

Aurizon is Australia’s largest rail freight operator and a top 100 ASX company. Each year, we deliver more than 250 million tonnes of Australian commodities right across the country. Aurizon is crucial to the Australian economy, connecting miners, primary producers and industry with international and domestic markets.

Look to Aurizon for a diverse and collaborative culture.

At Aurizon, we are proud of our diverse, collaborative, creative and high-performance culture. We celebrate the contribution of every employee and provide opportunities for career development in a dynamic, caring, and inclusive work environment.

To learn about us and our company values, please visit www.aurizon.com.au/careers