About the job

UGL Transport is a diversified transport company delivering critical assets and essential services that sustain and enhance the environment in which we live. Our capabilities extend across a broad range of services and whole-of-life solutions across the Transport sector, utilising world leading, sustainable and innovative technologies. We partner with some of the world’s largest blue-chip companies, government agencies, private enterprise, and public institutions.

We are guided by our Company values which extend to all leaders and team members and across all departments within the company.

Position Purpose

The Head of Procurement is responsible for leading all procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management and contract management activities across the rail manufacturing business. The role ensures the secure, cost-effective and timely supply of materials, components, systems and services required to support rollingstock manufacturing, maintenance and delivery programs.

The position plays a critical role in driving supply chain performance, supporting production schedules, managing supplier risk, delivering commercial value, and ensuring quality, safety and compliance standards are achieved throughout the supply network.

The Head of Procurement contributes to operational excellence, localisation objectives, supplier innovation and the successful delivery of rail projects.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement Strategy and Leadership

Develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with manufacturing, project delivery and business objectives.

Establish category strategies for key rail manufacturing spend categories

Drive procurement transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.

Provide strategic commercial advice to executive leadership and project teams.

Develop long-term sourcing strategies to support growth and operational requirements.

Supply Chain and Supplier Management

Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships locally and globally.

Ensure continuity of supply for critical production materials and components.

Lead supplier performance reviews

Establish supplier development programs to improve capability and performance.

Identify and mitigate supply chain risks impacting manufacturing and project delivery.

Support localisation and Australian Industry Participation (AIP) objectives where applicable.

Commercial and Contract Management

Lead commercial negotiations with key suppliers and service providers.

Establish and maintain robust contract management frameworks.

Negotiate long-term supply agreements that optimise cost, service and risk outcomes.

Support major bids, tenders and project mobilisation activities.

Manufacturing Support

Work closely with Operations, Engineering and Production teams to ensure procurement activities support manufacturing schedules.

Ensure material availability aligns with production demand and project milestones.

Support new product introduction and design-to-cost initiatives.

Develop inventory optimisation strategies balancing cost, availability and production requirements.

Implement processes to improve forecast accuracy and supplier responsiveness.

Governance, Quality and Compliance

Maintain procurement policies, systems and controls.

Ensure Compliance With Relevant

Rail industry standards

ISO requirements

Safety standards

Regulatory requirements

Corporate governance frameworks

Support supplier quality assurance programs.

Participate in supplier audits and quality investigations where required.

Ensure ethical sourcing and sustainability principles are embedded throughout procurement activities.

Financial Performance

Deliver annual procurement savings targets and value improvement initiatives.

Drive total cost of ownership (TCO) methodologies across sourcing decisions.

Improve spend visibility, procurement analytics and reporting capability.

Manage procurement budgets and operating expenditure.

Identify opportunities for cost reduction without compromising safety, quality or delivery performance.

Skills And Experience

10+ years' procurement and supply chain leadership experience in manufacturing, rail, rollingstock, heavy engineering, defence, aerospace or a comparable industrial environment.

Proven experience managing large-scale procurement programs supporting manufacturing operations.

Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management.

Strong contract negotiation and commercial management capability.

Experience managing global supply chains and critical supplier networks.

Diversity