Senior Advisor, Procurement

Are you passionate about delivering smart, strategic procurement that makes a real difference? We’re looking for a Senior Advisor, Procurement to join our team.

Mō te tūnga | About the role: 

As the Senior Advisor Procurement, you’ll provide expert advice and lead procurement activities that support our goals and priorities.

You’ll oversee procurement processes from start to finish and help shape how we work with our suppliers. 

You’ll also play a key part in building strong relationships and driving value well beyond pricing, ensuring our procurement strategies deliver great outcomes for Whaikaha and the people we serve.

What you’ll be doing:

• Supporting your manager with team direction, planning, and strategy.
• Leading thought leadership for the procurement work programme.
• Providing expert advice to guide procurement and contracting decisions.
• Building strong relationships with suppliers and encouraging collaboration.
• Developing tools and processes to help suppliers work well together.
• Reviewing contracts and negotiations to ensure they deliver the best outcomes.
• Building and maintaining positive relationships across Whaikaha.
• Working closely with government agencies, the disability community, NGOs, and other key stakeholders.
• Strengthening our organisation’s procurement capability.
• Offering strategic and operational advice to leaders and stakeholders.

As a small and agile organisation, we work collaboratively across teams and functions. While your primary focus will be within the procurement space, the nature of our work means you will be asked to take on additional responsibilities to support the wider Strategy and Enablement team. This could include contributing to corporate projects, supporting our planning, reporting or risk functions, or assisting with wider organisational initiatives — all of which offer valuable opportunities to broaden your experience and make a meaningful impact. We will work with you to understand your skills and aspirations and set these expectations together.

Please include a brief response in your cover letter outlining how you would approach working in a small, agile organisation where you may be asked to contribute beyond your core procurement responsibilities, including support across the wider Strategy and Enablement functions.

Mōu | About you: 

You have previous experience leading or providing senior advice on complex procurement projects.

You have strong knowledge and hands-on experience in procurement and contract management.

You’ve successfully built and managed relationships in complex and demanding environments.

You know how to strengthen an organisation’s procurement practices and capability.

You have previous experience providing strategic and operational advice to leaders and stakeholders. 

You have experience providing technical leadership or senior-level advice to others.

It’s a bonus if you understand how government works, but it’s not essential.

To undertake this role successfully you will either be a disabled person, or you will be able to establish credibility and trust with the disability community.

He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga | Position Description:

A copy of the position description can be found here. Senior Advisor Procurement position description.

Alternate formats of this advertisement can be found here: https://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/SeniorPro

Salary range: 102,533.00 - 124,402.00. 

Mō mātou | About us:

At Whaikaha, we want an Aotearoa New Zealand where Deaf and disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori are thriving.

As a Ministry we are dedicated to this goal, working with government, businesses, and communities to drive real change.

We do this by investing in disability communities, providing strategic and policy advice across government, monitoring how well services are working, and identifying new, exciting opportunities to make a difference.

We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive environment. 

Ka kati ngā tono hei te | Applications close:  Tuesday 24 June 2025. 

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply: 

Click the 'Apply' button to complete the online form, or let’s kōrero about what you need to feel supported in your application. For example, you may prefer to use video instead of a traditional CV and cover letter, or you might want whānau or a friend to tell us about you.

Contact us about the best way for you to apply by emailing: PeopleandCulture@whaikaha.govt.nz. 

If you work for Whaikaha please apply through the myHR portal so that your employee profile is visible as an internal candidate.