Manager Property, Procurement and Contracts

Strategic Leadership | Coastal & Country Lifestyle | Regional Victoria

Lead people strategy. Shape culture. Live where others holiday.

Salary information:
The TRP is circa $155k (inclusive of Super).  The position is classed as an Executive ongoing position. 

Colac Otway Shire Council is seeking an experienced and values‑driven Manager Property, Procurement and Contracts to join its senior leadership team. This is a rare opportunity to make a genuine, organisation‑wide impact while enjoying an exceptional coastal and country lifestyle.

This key leadership role offers the chance to lead a team, guiding Council on its Contract Management responsibilities, give strategic oversight and leadership on Council’s property and oversee Council’s procurement activities.

Why you’ll love working at Colac Otway Shire Council

This role offers more than career progression, it offers lifestyle, impact and purpose.

• Senior leadership opportunity with genuine influence across the organisation
• Lead procurement and property decisions to support environmental sustainability, social value and regional economic outcomes
• Supportive, inclusive and values‑driven executive team
• A rare opportunity to combine a senior business or commerce career with coastal and country living
• A chance to lead meaningful transformation and build organisational capability

About Colac Otway Shire Council

Located approximately two hours south‑west of Melbourne and one hour from Geelong, Colac Otway Shire offers the best of both worlds, a rewarding senior leadership role and an outstanding quality of life.

The region is renowned for its natural beauty, from the iconic Great Ocean Road and Otway rainforests to pristine beaches, lakes and vibrant regional townships. With a strong economy built on agriculture, tourism and community services, Colac Otway is an ideal place to live, work and grow your career.

About the role

Reporting to the General Manager Corporate Services, the Manager Property, Procurement and Contracts provides strategic and operational leadership across:

• Contract Management, practices and risk management
• Council’s property portfolio, including leases and licences
• Procurement activities including purchasing and tendering policies and procedures

You will provide leadership in the delivery of a safe, inclusive and compliant workplace, ensuring that Council’s property, procurement and contract management functions adhere to all relevant legislative requirements and deliver sustainable, value-for-money outcomes for the community.

Key responsibilities

• Lead a contemporary, centre-led model for property management, procurement and contract management that builds organisational capability and delivers sustainable value-for- money outcomes for the community.
• Provide strategic oversight and leadership of the risks presented by Council’s procurement and contract management activities and has adequate management practices and controls to manage these risks effectively.
• Strengthens Council’s commercial governance, risk management and probity frameworks.
• Utilise procurement and property decisions to support environmental sustainability, social value and regional economic outcomes.
• Identifies and facilitate opportunities for strategic procurement, collaborative procurement and social procurement.
• Comply with legislative requirements with respect to property management, procurement and contracts.

About you

You are a confident, people‑centred leader with strong technical expertise and the ability to operate at both a strategic and operational level. You bring sound judgement, approachability and a values‑driven leadership style, with the credibility to advise and influence senior leaders.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated high-level leadership capability in a values-based organisation, including inclusive, open and decisive people leadership practices.
• Demonstrated experience working in procurement, property and/or contract management functions within a regulated environment, with an understanding of the legislative and policy frameworks that govern these activities in local government.
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex or technical procurement, property and contract matters to a range of audiences.
• Demonstrated understanding of legislation, regulation and policy relevant to procurement, property management and contract governance in local government, including compliance and probity requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in procurement planning, purchasing and contract management across a range of goods, services and construction activities of varying value, risk and complexity.
• Strong commercial and financial management experience, including the preparation and management of budgets, reports and the negotiation and management of contracts.
• Tertiary qualifications in business, governance, procurement, property, commerce or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated experience are highly regarded.

Why join Colac Otway Shire Council?

Guided by shared values and a clear strategic vision, Colac Otway Shire Council is committed to building capable, high‑performing teams that work with integrity, openness and initiative.

This is your opportunity to:

• Lead sustainable value-for-money outcomes for the community.
• Influence meaningful regional economic outcomes.
• Enjoy a senior leadership role while embracing an enviable regional lifestyle

For further information regarding the duties and requirements of the role, please refer to the Position Description.

Applications close:
Thursday 16 April 2026

For further information and how to apply

Applicants are encouraged to download and review the Position Description, which includes the key selection criteria for the role.

Information to be included with your application:

• Letter of application
• Current resume

Written responses to the key selection criteria are not required as part of the application process. The selection criteria outlined in the Position Description will be assessed during the interview process.

Please submit your application via the online portal.

Please note: Council reserves the right to conduct interviews with suitable candidates prior to the closing date.

Colac Otway Shire Council is a child safe organisation and is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.