Sarah Lees
Function: Procurement
Industry: Government & Public Sector
Category: Professional Services
Level of responsibility: Senior
Procurement system: Other
About me
I have been involved with procurement for over 25 years and like most professionals in this career, procurement found me. My career has been varied and full of challenges but I have enjoyed all of it, even the negative experiences. I have worked in many categories of industry including State and Local Government, Mining and Resources, global and local private companies which has enabled furthering of my skills, knowledge and confidence to drive proficiency and achievements in procurement, supply chain and contract management. My greatest accomplishment to date, other than the All Blacks winning the Rugby World Cup – again, has been mentoring others to achieve their goals and drawing on my experience to advice others to undertake procurement. .
* Highly experience Specialist Procurement and Supply Chain Professional with a strong track record of delivering projected outcomes for projects under my portfolio.
*Excellent skills in maintaining contractual relationships and encouraging new suppliers to apply for compliance.
*High levels of accuracy in generating quality reporting for local business management.
*Expertise in developing tendering, RFQs, EOIs, evaluations and awarding of contracts.
*Experienced in developing, implementing and managing contracts, providing logistical support, training and forums for supplier/contractor interaction with Stakeholders.
*Strong customer service ethic and excellent team player and proven ability to work autonomously.
Work Experience
Procurement Coordinator
Lockyer Valley Regional Council
March 2014 - July 2019 (5 years, 4 months) | Gatton, Australia
Accountable for providing procurement, purchasing, contract and supply-chain management activities, to ensure the needs of the Council are met in a cost effective and timely manner.
Lead the development and implementation of a strategic procurement system and for the effective execution and management of purchasing requirements through a Central Buying Team across council.
Supply Chain Management – Senior Buyer
ABB Australia Pty Ltd
July 2012 - December 2013 (1 year, 5 months) | Darra, Australia
*The tracking and recording of all purchase orders/order acknowledgements relating to projects within Australia,
*source/liaise with ABB suppliers to ensure contractual relationships are maintained,
*engage new suppliers to apply for compliance and emerging market suppliers,
*driving assessments to current suppliers/contractors,
*provide accurate and quality reporting for local and global business management,
*reporting and generating cost savings for Power Systems Nationally,
*Providing advice and driving strategies for the procurement processes in areas of tendering, RFQs, EOIs, evaluations and contract awarding,
*Develop, implement and manage contracts, logistical support, and forums for supplier/contractor interaction with ABB,
*Ensure ABBs compliance with our customers’ requirements while providing assurance for ABB.
Senior Procurement Officer
Ausenco Services Pty Ltd
November 2011 - March 2012 (4 months) | Brisbane Qld
*Negotiate, manage and liaising with Rio Tinto and the supplier to ensure contractual relationships were maintained;
*Facilitate the development, implementation and compliance with contracts relating to the successful completion of manufacture, QA testing, delivery to site and the installation on site of equipment and/or services,
*providing authoritative, professional advice and package reporting to staff and managers,
*Actioning of requests for variations to scope, engineering specifications, progress reporting, and extensions of time and/or budgetary changes.
*analyse package strategies and implement quality improvement to mitigate risk
Achievements: Development and implementation of procedures; Tracking of Variations between RIO Tinto and Ausenco; Plotting and graphing of strategic milestones (delivery schedules).
Principal Procurement Officer
Arts Queensland, Department of Premiers and Cabinet
May 2011 - November 2011 (6 months) | Brisbane Qld
*Provided authoritative and professional advice to staff, managers and executives across a range of issues including contract development and management, strategic requirements and offer evaluation and facilities management.
*Implemented procedures for planning, reporting, performance measures, in-house training and compliance processes in line with the requirements of the State Procurement Policy of Queensland. analyse strategies and approach to supply markets for cost effective solutions,
*Implemented quality improvement to mitigate risks which ensured minimum disruption to the daily operation of the facilities in and around Southbank.
Achievements: Review, develop and implementation of Arts Queensland Procurement Manual and
Templates; Achieved compliance and governance of procurement reporting, Managed development of Services Maintenance Contract – Facilities & Property for the public facilities at Southbank, Delivery of Arts Queensland Procurement Awareness training
Manager, Procurement and Contracts
Electoral Commission Queensland
July 2020 - Present (4 years) | Brisbane
• Provide high-level procurement advice by facilitating procurement activities, assist in developing evaluation matrix and provide independent review of the procurement process.
• Active engagement with key stakeholders, foster network and vendor negotiations to deliver value for money for the ECQ.
• Facilitate and work closely with internal stakeholders in managing contracts, reviewing current contracts and ongoing performance review of contracted suppliers.
• Proactive management of the ECQ’s contract register.
• Maintain knowledge of the Queensland Government procurement policy and procedures, financial management policies and procedures, probity standards and other guiding frameworks relating to supplier management and contracts.
• Consistently display the ECQ and Queensland Government values, ensuring that these are upheld at all levels of the organisation
Education
Life
Private and public experience
1998 - 2015
Other than a formal Certificate from Queensland Chief Procurement Office for Strategic and Advanced Procurement most of my experience has come from many different positions within different industries. ICT, Pathology, Health, Transport, Electrical, Mining, Consulting/Contracting, Supply Chain and Logistics. I had the good fortune to learn on the job from some great people who wanted to share their skills and knowledge with me and I hope I have done them all justice.
Local Government Association of Queensland
Diploma
2014 - 2014
LGA50104 Diploma in Local Government Administration (Governance & Administration)
*Identify key elements of governance in council
*Recognise effective consultation processes and methods
*Better understand budget preparation in council and compliance
*Review HR policy and procedures within council
*Assist in preparation and review of corporate plan
Local Governement Association of Queensland
Diploma
2017 - 2017
Diploma of Leadership and Management reflects the role of individuals who apply knowledge, practical skills and experience in leadership and management across a range of enterprise and industry contexts.
* Managing teams
* Manage performance
* Organisational Planning & Finance
* Emotional Intelligence
* Manage Relationships
* Workplace Health & Safety
Skills
Business Process Improvement
Buying
Collaborative Working
Communication Skills
Compliance
Consulting
Continuous Improvement
Contract Development
Contract Management
Cross-functional Team Leadership
Delivering Results
Due Diligence
E-procurement
Employee Training
Enjoy Challenges
Excel
Governance
Government Procurement
Leadership
Management
Market Analysis
Microsoft Office
Negotiation
Networking
Policy
Process Improvement
Procurement
Procurement Category Management
Procurement Contracts
Procurement Transformation
Procurement Transformation & Integration
Quotations
Risk Assessment
Risk Management & Mitigation
SaaS
Stakeholder Engagement
Strategic Leadership
Strategy Development
Supplier Relationship Management
Supply Relationship Management
Team Leadership
Tender & Bid Management
Tender Development
Tender Evaluation
Tender Preparation
Tender Writing
Membership
