Senior Associate - Procurement

Build the future with QTC

Join an organisation that has been recognised as ‘one of Australia’s best places to work’, winning multiple Employer of Choice awards in recent years for professional development, employee benefits and culture.

QTC is the central financing authority for the Queensland Government and provides financial resources and services for the State. We manage the State’s funding program in the global capital markets to deliver sustainable and cost-effective borrowings for the Queensland Government, local governments, and other related entities (our clients). 

With a statutory role to advance the financial interests and development of the State, we help to deliver innovative, long-term solutions that contribute to the growth of Queensland’s economy. We protect Queensland’s financial interests and deliver better financial outcomes by centralising the management of our clients’ borrowings, cash investments, and foreign exchange.

Purpose of role

The Senior Associate is a strategic function participant of the organisation and leads by example at QTC.  Strategically, Senior Associates deliver competitive advantages to QTC through aligning their function with the strategic intent of the business. The primary purpose of the Senior Associate role is to assist in leading the organisation by providing strategic procurement advice and governance, in line with the de-centralised procurement operating model whilst applying the Queensland Procurement Policy (QPP) principles to identify, evaluate, and select vendors to align with organisational requirements and objectives. 

The position will play a crucial role in providing advice across the procurement lifecycle to support the organisation in achieving its corporate strategic plan and delivering superior results through QTC’s values and ways of working.

Senior Associate Roles

• Are experts in the efficiency and strategic procurement of essential services and solutions for the organisation;
• Apply the Queensland Procurement Policy (QPP) principles to identify, evaluate, and select vendors to align with organisational requirements and objectives;
• Maintain collaborative relationships with vendors, emphasising open communication and ethical conduct to achieve optimal outcomes;
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders to understand their requirements, whilst ensuring alignment with the QPP to formulate sourcing strategies;
• Ensure transparent and fair negotiations with vendors, adhering to the principles of value for money and ethical conduct as outlined by the QPP;
• Manage contracts in accordance with legal, compliance and cyber security requirements, and liaise with relevant Legal, Compliance and IT security teams to manage risks with procured services and products;
• Implement strategies that align with the QPP's goal of achieving value for money, driving cost effective procurement practices while upholding quality and service delivery standards;
• Provide internal stakeholders with insights into procurement processes and strategies that support effective decision making;
• Establish and nurture positive relationships with priority vendors, conducting regular evaluations of performance through quarterly attestations in line with the QPP's requirements;
• Encourage collaboration between vendors and internal teams to drive innovation, quality improvement and mutual value creation, through regular discussions consisting of vendor planning, segmentation and engagement framework;
• Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with vendors, services and products in line with organisational risk appetite, legal, compliance and commercial requirements; and 
• Stay informed about industry specific regulations, compliance requirements and emerging risks to ensure prudent procurement decisions, whilst also participating in applicable trainings associated with the role. 
   

Key accountabilities

The Senior Associates within the Procurement team are responsible for:

• Being experts and leaders in the efficiency and strategic procurement of essential services and solutions for the organisation;
• Overseeing that the procurement processes undertaken by QTC are conducted in accordance with the Queensland Procurement Policy and QTC’s Procurement policy and procedure;
• Answering and responding to procurement related enquires;
• Providing guidance and advisement on effective procurement practices to internal QTC business users;
• Providing guidance on effective contract management practices to internal QTC business users;
• Assisting the business to maintain their records in the Contract Management System (CMS) to ensure they are accurate and up to date; 
• Supporting the business in establishing and maintaining effective engagement frameworks that drive positive performance outcomes from priority vendors;
• Working with the business to broaden and embed the organisational understanding of the procurement policy, procedures and responsibilities within QTC;
• Maintaining and assisting with the development of procurement procedures and templates;
• Entering the correct application of information into QTC’s contract management system (Protecht) including updating of key contract information, approval requirements and supporting documentation;
• Providing assistance and advice to the business on processes and authorisations required to enter into contracts with external vendors; 
• Onboarding of vendors onto QTC’s systems including necessary paperwork execution and management prior to vendors being added to the contract management system and financial management system;
• Ensuring that vendor activities encompass all source to contract activities and extend further into managing the relationship with key vendors and partners that QTC engages on an ongoing basis;
• Development and maintenance of a strategic vendor and contract management framework that maximises outcomes for QTC for outsourced arrangements and delivers win-win relationships with key strategic partners; and
• Update and maintain key policies including QTC’s Procurement Procedure and Procurement Policy.

The role will:

• Implement team, corporate and enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Provide high level advice to executive management and the Board.
• Devise and implement the approved direction of the function.
• Represent the organisation on committees and forums as required.
• Assist the Procurement and Facilities team to achieve
  • Flow of work and information
  • Collaboration, innovation and superior results
  • Stakeholder focus and endorsement
  • Alignment with change programs
  • Continuous improvement
  • Governance and risk management.
• Deliver optimal results through collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Meet CEO and Board reporting requirements to enable informed decision making.
• Demonstrate talent and capacity across a broad spectrum of skills needed to deliver business success
  • Negotiation, facilitation, communication skills (verbal, written, presentations) suitable to stakeholders
  • Relevant financial, economic, industry, statistical analysis skills with attention to detail
  • Research, reporting and advocacy to a level suitable for publication

Selection Criteria

Required qualifications 

Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline or significant equivalent contribution and understanding.

Required experience 

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in roles that demonstrate overall competency.
• Extensive experience in the business operating model capability set with delivered results (preferred) or identified capacity to deliver results across the listed capability areas.

Essential personal qualities

• Personal drive and integrity and accepts accountability;
• Ability to be discreet, maintain confidentiality, recognise and respect sensitivities;
• Personal leadership consistent with QTC values and highest level QTC competencies; and
• Expert attention to detail, prioritisation and organisational skills. 

Why will QTC be the best work of your career?

Work

We do work that improves Queensland for generations. We are a leader in finance, creating meaningful solutions with profound outcomes. We set the standard in financial solutions. We address the challenges of today, with results for tomorrow. 

People

We are an inspired team of solution creators. We believe that curiosity is the ultimate problem solver. That the best teams are united by trust, not divided by ego. And that diversity sets us apart. 

Culture

We recognise that developing our people leads to their success, that energised teams create brighter outcomes and that with the freedom to challenge, we can strive for better together. 

Benefits 

We are dedicated to investing in your future. We understand that an energised mind is cultivated by time and investment, that developing future leaders requires commitment and that your best work starts with your best self. Benefit from a best-in-class professional development program, flexible work, leadership programs, study support, paid-parental leave, salary packaging and a corporate wellbeing program (including discounts for you and your family to a range of fitness facilities close to home or work).

‘Employer of Choice’ and Culture awards

QTC has been recognised as one of Australia’s best places to work, receiving the ‘Employer of Choice’ award from Human Resources Director (HRD) in 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020. In 2019, QTC received a high-profile award from the world’s foremost culture and leadership experts—The Human Synergistics’s Culture Transformation Achievement Award—for the positive behaviour and attitude of its employees.