Head of Purchasing

Waterco Limited; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Waterco Limited in Sydney region is seeking an experienced Head of Purchasing to lead the purchasing function. Based in Rydalmere, you will manage day-to-day priorities while improving systems, supplier performance and inventory strategies.

You will coordinate with Planning, Strategic Procurement, Sales, manufacturing and logistics across multiple sites and oversee 3-5 purchasing staff, driving cost savings and value creation for Waterco’s global operations.

Qualifications

• Substantial purchasing and supplier management experience in manufacturing or distribution.
• Experience leading a purchasing team across multiple sites.
• Understanding replenishment, seasonal demand, lead times and working capital.

Responsibilities

• Lead the purchasing team across locations, setting priorities and coaching staff.
• Translate demand into purchasing decisions and coordinate supplier orders.
• Strengthen supplier performance and manage delivery commitments.
• Improve cost, service and total landed cost through strategic procurement.
• Support inventory performance with planning, sales and promotions collaboration.
• Drive process improvements in purchasing data, reporting and controls.

Skills

People leadership

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

ERP knowledge

Excel skills

AI analytics

Cross-functional collaboration

Forecasting & replenishment

Education

Qualifications in supply chain or procurement

Tools

Epicor

Job description

Waterco is seeking an experienced Head of Purchasing to lead its purchasing function and ensure the right products and materials are available when needed. Reporting to the Head of Operations, you will balance supply reliability, purchasing costs and inventory investment while building a capable, responsive team.

Based in Rydalmere, you will lead 3-5 purchasing team members distributed across Rydalmere and Scoresby and work closely with Planning, Strategic Procurement, Sales, manufacturing and logistics. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can manage day-to-day supply priorities while improving systems, processes and supplier performance.

What you’ll do

Lead the team: Set clear priorities, coach and develop your team, and build consistent purchasing practices across locations.

Manage purchasing and supply: Translate agreed demand and supply plans into purchasing decisions, coordinating orders with Waterco’s manufacturing operation in Malaysia and local and international suppliers.

Strengthen supplier performance: Manage delivery commitments, resolve shortages and delays, and address supply risks before they affect customers.

Improve commercial outcomes: Work with Strategic Procurement on supplier arrangements, purchasing terms and cost-saving opportunities, considering quality, reliability and total landed cost.

Support inventory performance: Partner with Planning, branches and Sales to respond to seasonal demand and promotional activity, protect stock availability and reduce excess or obsolete inventory.

Drive process improvement: Improve purchasing data, reporting and controls in Epicor, and support forecasting and replenishment improvements.

Coordinate across the business: Work with Product Managers, Import/Export, warehouses, Quality and Finance to support product transitions, inbound deliveries and timely issue resolution.

What you’ll bring

You are a practical purchasing leader who combines commercial judgement with strong attention to detail. You are comfortable working through supply issues, using data to make decisions and bringing people together to deliver results.

Relevant experience: Substantial purchasing and supplier management experience in manufacturing, distribution or a multi-site product business.

People leadership: Experience leading and developing a purchasing team, ideally across locations.

Inventory knowledge: A sound understanding of replenishment, seasonal demand, supplier lead times and working capital.

Commercial skills: Strong negotiation, analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on cost, service and supply reliability.

Systems capability: Strong ERP and Excel skills; Epicor experience will be highly regarded. Use of AI tools to enhance analytics and support decision making

Collaborative approach: The ability to build productive relationships with suppliers and colleagues across operational and commercial teams.

Qualifications: Relevant qualifications in supply chain, procurement or business, or equivalent practical experience.

Why this role?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of purchasing performance and make a tangible contribution to how Waterco serves its customers. You will work directly with the Head of Operations, develop your team and shape practical improvements across supplier management, inventory and purchasing processes.

Established in 1981 and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1989, Waterco (ASX: WAT) manufactures and distributes a diverse range of products for the international swimming pool, spa and water treatment markets.

Waterco delivers high quality water treatment pumps and filtration systems, solar pool heating, chemicals and swimming pool and spa accessories at exceptional value to over 40 countries worldwide.

Source: This is an extract from the company's own website.

Established in 1981 and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1989, Waterco (ASX: WAT) manufactures and distributes a diverse range of products for the international swimming pool, spa and water treatment markets.

Waterco delivers high quality water treatment pumps and filtration systems, solar pool heating, chemicals and swimming pool and spa accessories at exceptional value to over 40 countries worldwide.

Source: This is an extract from the company's own website.

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