Job Description

About the Opportunity

The Head of Strategic Procurement is a key leadership role within the Finance team, responsible for driving the University's procurement strategy and delivering a high-performing, value-focused procurement function. Leading a team of procurement professionals, the role will enhance procurement governance, streamline processes, and improve the stakeholder experience while ensuring commercially sound, transparent, and compliant procurement outcomes.

Operating within a centre-led, decentralised procurement model, the Head of Strategic Procurement will provide expert advice to senior stakeholders, drive procurement excellence and efficiencies, and foster a strong customer-focused approach. The role also ensures the University meets its regulatory, financial, ethical, sustainability, contemporary slavery, risk, and responsible procurement obligations, supporting the achievement of the University's broader strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead the University’s procurement function, delivering efficient, value-driven procurement services aligned to strategic and operational priorities.
- Drive procurement governance, risk management, compliance, and assurance frameworks to support transparent and accountable decision-making.
- Develop and implement procurement strategies, category management approaches, and contract management practices that maximise value, strengthen supplier performance, and reduce complexity.
- Simplify procurement processes and systems to enhance stakeholder experience, improve efficiency, and provide responsive support.
- Provide expert procurement, commercial, and governance advice to senior leaders and key stakeholders.
- Manage the procurement pipeline, ensuring effective prioritisation, planning, and delivery of strategic procurement activities.




- Build strong stakeholder and supplier relationships to deliver practical solutions and sustainable commercial outcomes.
- Lead, develop, and empower a high-performing procurement team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Promote innovation, digital enablement, ethical procurement practices, and compliance with relevant legislation, policies, and governance requirements.
- Represent the University in engagement with government, suppliers, industry networks, and external partners.

About you

- Extensive leadership experience in strategic procurement, sourcing, contract management, and supplier governance within complex organisations.
- Proven ability to lead a centre-led procurement function, delivering strong governance, stakeholder outcomes, and measurable value.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to use data and insights to inform strategy and decision-making.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing, and negotiation skills, with success managing complex commercial matters.
- Sound knowledge of procurement governance, risk, compliance, probity, and contract management.
- Commitment to sustainable, ethical, and responsible procurement practices.
- Demonstrated success leading teams, driving change, and building a high-performance culture.

Candidates must have full unrestricted Australian work rights and may be subject to a National criminal history check. Sponsorship is not available for this role.

What we can offer
This is a full time, fixed term opportunity for 5 years primarily based Brisbane South (Nathan). As Griffith is a multi-site university, you may be required to work across other locations.

Griffith University’s sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

Salary

A competitive salary will be negotiated with the preferred candidate.

📌 Head of Strategic Procurement (Nathan)
🏢 Griffith University
📍 Nathan