Senior Category Manager, M&E and Infrastructure

At NEXTDC, our growth depends on securing the critical infrastructure that brings our data centres to life. As Senior Category Manager, you’ll lead sourcing strategy across critical mechanical and electrical (M&E) power, cooling and fitout components, building strategic supplier partnerships and negotiating commercial agreements that keep projects moving. Working closely with Development, Design & Engineering, Construction and Operations, you’ll help turn our ambitious development pipeline into operational capacity across Australia and Asia. You’ll also help shape a smarter, AI-enabled way of working, using data, technology and new ideas to drive better commercial outcomes. We welcome applications from across Australia, with a preference for candidates based in Melbourne or Sydney.

Responsibilities

• Lead RFI, RFP, tender processes and high-value negotiations with OEMs, manufacturers, distributors and M&E contractors, optimising total cost of ownership across price, lead time, quality, energy efficiency, warranty, spares and service.
• Determine appropriate procurement models, including owner-furnished or contractor-furnished equipment, direct OEM supply, framework and panel arrangements, and modular or prefabricated solutions.
• Partner with Design & Engineering to standardise specifications across sites.
• Develop and negotiate master supply agreements, framework agreements and installation contracts with Legal.
• Monitor supplier concentration and financial health, geopolitical and trade exposure, logistics and foreign exchange risks, implementing dual sourcing, buffer stock and contingency plans for critical items.
• Coordinate with project teams on manufacturing progress, factory acceptance testing, expediting, logistics and site delivery to ensure critical equipment arrives on time, specification and ready for installation and commissioning.
• Partner with Sales, Solutions and Development on customer-specific and customer-reimbursable fitouts, including high-density and liquid-cooled AI deployments, ensuring fast, compliant and commercially sound delivery.
• Manage strategic OEM and contractor relationships through KPIs, scorecards, quarterly business reviews and executive engagement, positioning NEXTDC as a customer of choice in a capacity-constrained market.

Requirements

• Working knowledge of e-procurement, ERP and project and supply chain tracking tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including concise, executive-ready papers and recommendations.

Preferred

• Eagerness to learn and apply AI tools in daily work and become an AI-enabled operator.
• Hands-on procurement AI experience is advantageous but not essential.

What You’ll Do Category strategy

Develop and execute multi-year strategies for data centre fitout and development, aligned with NEXTDC’s development pipeline and capital program.

Market and cost intelligence

Analyse supply markets, commodity and cost drivers, lead-time trends, technology roadmaps and should-cost models to inform budgets, design decisions and negotiation strategies.

Value tracking and reporting

Report category performance, including savings and cost avoidance, spend under management, lead times, on-time delivery, supplier performance and budget versus actual, to Procurement leadership and executives.

Regional expansion

Support NEXTDC’s growth in Asia by expanding supplier coverage, local partnerships and logistics pathways in new markets.

Safety, sustainability and ethics

Embed safety, sustainability and ethical sourcing into supplier selection and management, including embodied carbon, energy efficiency, refrigerant choices and modern slavery due diligence, while creating opportunities for Indigenous and social enterprise suppliers.

AI-enabled procurement

Explore and adopt AI and automation across spend and market analytics, demand forecasting, should-cost modelling, sourcing, contract review and supply risk monitoring, sharing successful practices to build a best-in-class, AI-enabled procurement function.

What You’ll Bring Category leadership

Proven ability to develop and deliver strategies for complex, capital-intensive spend that generate measurable, sustained commercial value.

Commercial acumen and negotiation

Expert negotiation, financial and analytical skills, including building should-cost and total cost of ownership models and analysing OEM and contractor pricing.

Technical fluency

Working knowledge of data centre M&E infrastructure, including critical power, cooling and white space, to engage credibly with engineers and OEMs and challenge specifications. Engineering or contractor experience is advantageous but not essential.

Supply chain management

Strong understanding of manufacturing lead times, capacity planning, expediting, international logistics and supply chain risks in constrained global markets.

Contracting

Strong knowledge of supply and construction contracts, including master supply and framework agreements. Familiarity with Australian Standard (AS 4000 series) and/or FIDIC contracts is highly regarded.

Influence and stakeholder management

Ability to influence and challenge senior leaders, engineers and project directors, translating complex commercial, technical and risk issues into clear recommendations.

Data and insight

Advanced spend and cost analysis, Excel and BI skills, with the ability to turn data into actionable insights.

Change leadership

Ability to drive adoption of new processes and ways of working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Personal attributes

High ownership, urgency, resilience, curiosity and unquestionable integrity.

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Business, Commerce, Supply Chain or a related discipline, including an MEP trade qualification. MCIPS qualification or working towards it is highly regarded. 5+ years of procurement, category management or supply chain experience, including at least 3 years leading capital equipment, construction or M&E categories in a large, complex organisation. Proven track record of delivering significant savings, cost avoidance and supply security across major capital programs. Experience negotiating with global OEMs and managing international supply chains, including importing, logistics and foreign exchange exposure. Data centre experience is highly regarded; experience in critical infrastructure, construction, energy and utilities, resources, semiconductors or telecommunications is also valued. Experience operating across Asia-Pacific is desirable.

Be part of a fast-growing, future-focused technology company Play a key role in supporting AI and digital infrastructure in Australia Thrive in a collaborative, inclusive, and values-driven culture Access career development and progression opportunities as we expand Our mission is to continue building a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents the communities in which we operate. Make NEXTDC your next move.

At NEXTDC we are building the heart of Australia & Asia’s high-tech future. We design, build and operate world class, next generation data centres, using cutting edge, environmentally efficient infrastructure to service the specific requirements of local, international customers. NEXTDC is an exciting ASX 100-listed technology company, only 16 years young and operating 17 data centres across 7 major cities in Australia, with multiple international sites in development to support our customer’s digital infrastructure. At NEXTDC our success depends on the talents of our people, and we foster a culture of continued learning and development. Our culture is built on collaboration and innovation, we are passionate about what we do, and we are committed to our mission to be the leading customer-centric data centre services company. Where Cloud lives and AI thrives