{"id":2836315,"url":"https://alion.io/job/nextdc-senior-category-manager-me-and-infrastructure","title":"Senior Category Manager, M&E and Infrastructure","company":{"id":49829,"name":"NEXTDC","domain":"nextdc.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/nextdc-com","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SmartRecruiters","truth_index":null},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Melbourne, Australia"],"countries":["AU"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":84000,"max_usd":152000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_cell","sample_n":9},"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-19T03:30:50Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-19","last_verified_at":"2026-11-03T17:28:10Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":15,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":15},"description":"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.\nNEXTDC 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.\nAt 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.\nWhere Cloud lives and AI thrives\n 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.\nWorking closely with Development, Design & Engineering, Construction and Operations, you’ll help turn our ambitious development pipeline into operational capacity across Australia and Asia.\nYou’ll also help shape a smarter, AI-enabled way of working, using data, technology and new ideas to drive better commercial outcomes.\nWe welcome applications from across Australia, with a preference for candidates based in Melbourne or Sydney. \nWhat You’ll Do\nCategory strategy: Develop and execute multi-year strategies for data centre fitout and development, aligned with NEXTDC’s development pipeline and capital program. \nStrategic sourcing and negotiation: 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. \nProcurement models and standardisation: 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. \nCommercial frameworks: Develop and negotiate master supply agreements, framework agreements and installation contracts with Legal. \nSupply chain risk and resilience: 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. \nDelivery assurance: 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. \nCustomer fitout: 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. \nSupplier performance and relationships: 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. \nMarket 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. \nValue 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. \nRegional expansion: Support NEXTDC’s growth in Asia by expanding supplier coverage, local partnerships and logistics pathways in new markets. \nSafety, 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. \nAI-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. \nWhat You’ll Bring\nCategory leadership: Proven ability to develop and deliver strategies for complex, capital-intensive spend that generate measurable, sustained commercial value. \nCommercial 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. \nTechnical 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. \nSupply chain management: Strong understanding of manufacturing lead times, capacity planning, expediting, international logistics and supply chain risks in constrained global markets. \nContracting: 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. \nInfluence and stakeholder management: Ability to influence and challenge senior leaders, engineers and project directors, translating complex commercial, technical and risk issues into clear recommendations. \nData and insight: Advanced spend and cost analysis, Excel and BI skills, with the ability to turn data into actionable insights. \nTechnology: Working knowledge of e-procurement, ERP and project and supply chain tracking tools. \nAI curiosity and learning mindset: 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. \nChange leadership: Ability to drive adoption of new processes and ways of working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. \nCommunication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including concise, executive-ready papers and recommendations. \nPersonal attributes: High ownership, urgency, resilience, curiosity and unquestionable integrity. \n Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Business, Commerce, Supply Chain or a related discipline, including an MEP trade qualification. \nMCIPS qualification or working towards it is highly regarded. \n5+ 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. \nProven track record of delivering significant savings, cost avoidance and supply security across major capital programs. \nExperience negotiating with global OEMs and managing international supply chains, including importing, logistics and foreign exchange exposure. \nData centre experience is highly regarded; experience in critical infrastructure, construction, energy and utilities, resources, semiconductors or telecommunications is also valued. \nExperience operating across Asia-Pacific is desirable. \n Be part of a fast-growing, future-focused technology company\nPlay a key role in supporting AI and digital infrastructure in Australia\nThrive in a collaborative, inclusive, and values-driven culture\nAccess career development and progression opportunities as we expand\nOur mission is to continue building a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents the communities in which we operate.\nMake NEXTDC your next move.","description_format":"text","description_chars":8109,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[{"language":"English","level":"All levels","optional":false}]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Data Centers & Colocation"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-19T06:49:32Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":76,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.847,"p_room":0.9,"age_days":15,"expected_fill_days":36,"reasons":["conf:2","win:mid"],"computed_at":"2026-11-03T05:54:40Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/nextdc-senior-category-manager-me-and-infrastructure","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/nextdc-senior-category-manager-me-and-infrastructure.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-03T19:45:40Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":2188,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-04T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":49829},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=49829"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnextdc-senior-category-manager-me-and-infrastructure"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnextdc-senior-category-manager-me-and-infrastructure"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnextdc-senior-category-manager-me-and-infrastructure"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/nextdc-senior-category-manager-me-and-infrastructure\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnextdc-senior-category-manager-me-and-infrastructure"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":2836315}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"nextdc.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":2836315},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); 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