Senior Category Specialist

You’ll connect Queensland. We’ll connect you to an amazing career.

Queensland Rail is built on true connection. And everything we achieve is made possible by you.

For 160 years, our teams have played an important role in connecting people and communities across the state. As a Senior Category Specialist, you’ll contribute to our proud legacy and help us build an even brighter, more sustainable future - and that means incredible things for your career.

Your opportunity

Queensland Rail’s Strategic Procurement team is a strategic function that drives value, reduces risk, and ensures operational efficiency in support of Queensland Rail’s complex network of Travel, Tourism and freight services. Our mission is to partner with our stakeholders to improve business outcomes and provide value for money solutions in our commitment to providing world-class rail services to the public. 

As a member of our Rollingstock and Capital Projects team, the Senior Category Specialist (AS6) will procure goods and services of significant value, develop supplier relationships, and drive strategic procurement outcomes. 

The role requires a proactive leader who can problem-solve procurement challenges, work with diverse stakeholder needs, and make commercially sound decisions while maintaining strong business relationships.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and driving procurement strategies for high-value goods and services, including major construction works and rollingstock overhaul programs ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Developing strong relationships with key stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor and effectively managing competing priorities.
• Owning procurement outcomes, proactively identifying and solving problems to drive commercial value across the business.
• Navigating complex stakeholder interactions, ensuring expectations are managed and procurement best practices are upheld.
• Analysing procurement spend, supplier performance, and market trends to improve commercial outcomes.
• Driving continuous improvement in procurement processes, ensuring compliance and efficiency.
• Managing multiple procurement projects concurrently, ensuring smooth execution and timely decision-making.

What We’re Looking For:

To be successful in this role, you should possess the following:

• Strong leadership skills and a desire to drive procurement strategy and influence best commercial outcomes.
• Proven experience with high-volume procurement within a center-led procurement function and expertise in tender processes, contract negotiations, and supplier management.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and high emotional intelligence (EQ) with the ability to build trust and manage expectations across different perspectives.
• Strategic problem-solving skill to interpret business issues and develop commercially sound procurement solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and prioritise effectively.
• Confidence in handling challenging conversations with stakeholders and suppliers, ensuring procurement remains a strategic enabler for the business.

Please click  here to view the full position description

Remuneration & Employment Type

This is a permanent, fulltime position, based in Brisbane CBD with a starting base salary of $130,627 plus 12.75% superannuation and hybrid work options to support the balance between work and personal commitments.

Benefits that Count

All that Queensland Rail achieves each day relies on the hard work and talent of our teams. That’s why we offer a range of attractive benefits designed to help you bring your best, including: 

• Balance your work and personal life with flexible working options
• Enjoy free travel to work and discounted rail travel
• QRI Lifestyle offers members access to over 2,000 exclusive discounts and services
• Prioritise your physical, emotional and financial wellbeing with our range of free services
• You and your family can get fit and have fun with access to over 380 gyms and pools with our Fitness Passport
• Eligible employees can receive up to 100% reimbursement for professional membership fees
• Shape your rewarding career with clear pathways, innovative projects and opportunities for growth and leadership.

And more! Click here to see the full range of benefits available to Queensland Rail employees.

Progress that Counts

Joining Queensland Rail means being part of an exciting future where you'll welcome millions of international passengers for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Our Cross River Rail project will transform travel across the South East Queensland network, doubling passenger journeys to 80 million over the next decade.

To support this growth and enhance customer experiences, we're committed to key initiatives, including building three new Gold Coastline stations, implementing the $2.6 billion Gold Coast Faster Rail Project, introducing 65 new Next Generation Rolling Stock trains, improving station accessibility at eight main stations, boosting North Coast Line capacity and upgrading Central Station.

Your journey matters. Make it with us.

If you’re ready to make a real impact and contribute to the future of our organization, we encourage you to submit your resume and cover letter before 11:59 PM (AEST) on 11TH September.

If you reside outside of Queensland, please note that this role requires relocation to Brisbane by your start date, as full-time remote work or fly-in/fly-out arrangements are not supported.

As part of the recruitment process, applicants may be required to undergo pre-employment alcohol and drug testing. The selection process may also include skills assessments, video or phone interviews, psychometric testing, pre-employment health evaluations, and background checks, including criminal history and credit assessments.

Recruitment Agencies: We are managing this process internally and do not accept unsolicited applications from agencies.

Supporting a Diverse Workforce

Queensland Rail acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Elders of the lands and waterways our network traverses.

Our teams are People who Count. We encourage diversity in our teams, including different genders, age, race, disability status, sexual orientation, religions, neurodiversity, education levels and many more aspects. No two journeys are the same, and it’s because of our differences that as a collective, we achieve great things.

If you would like to discuss reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process, please contact Judy Williams at judy.williams@qr.com.au.