Procurement Support

Van Hessen Australia Pty Ltd; Wangaratta; Hybrid; AUD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Travel across AU/NZ

Training opportunities

Job summary

Van Hessen Australia Pty Ltd. is seeking a practical, hands-on Procurement Support to work across Australia and New Zealand.

The role involves significant travel to abattoirs, processing sites and suppliers, with flexible location across Victoria or Southern NSW and some home-based work when not travelling. You will engage on the factory floor, communicate with operators and management, and identify practical improvements.

Qualifications

• Practical experience in production, processing, abattoir, agricultural, trade or operational environment.
• Ability to walk onto a production floor and speak with operators and site management.
• Strong problem-solving with a practical approach.
• Good communication and relationship-building with suppliers and customers.
• Able to manage time while travelling and work independently.
• Willingness to learn procurement and commercial processes.

Responsibilities

• Regularly travel to suppliers, abattoirs and processing sites across Australia and New Zealand.
• Work on the factory floor with production teams to understand operations.
• Monitor supplier performance and discuss actions for improvement.
• Coordinate follow-up actions and ensure improvements are implemented.
• Build strong relationships with operators, site managers and customers.
• Report findings, risks and opportunities to the Procurement Manager.

Skills

Practical experience

Hands-on

Communication skills

Team player

Independent

Q Fever vaccination

Job description

Van Hessen is the leading global player in the harvesting, processing and distribution of natural casings, meat products and raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry.

In Australia we purchase sheep runners (small intestines used to produce natural sausage casings) directly from abattoirs. We work closely with abattoir management and production teams to support runner recovery, product quality and processing improvements.

About the role

We are looking for a practical, hands‑on person to join our team as Procurement Support, working closely with the Procurement Manager across Australia and New Zealand.

This is not a desk-based procurement role. A significant part of the role will be spent visiting abattoirs, processing sites and suppliers, getting to know how their operations work, speaking directly with operators and management, and identifying practical ways to improve performance, quality and equipment.

The role offers a flexible working location and can be based anywhere across Victoria or Southern New South Wales, with the flexibility to work from home when not travelling for the right candidate. You will be required to attend the Wangaratta office at times.

You will spend regular time on the road visiting supplier and processing sites across Australia and New Zealand. You will need to be comfortable working in abattoir and production environments, including areas where livestock processing and associated activities are undertaken.

You don't need to come from a traditional procurement background. We are looking for someone who is practical, hands‑on, mechanically or operationally minded, willing to get involved and comfortable talking to people on the factory floor. Just as importantly, you will need the professionalism to communicate effectively with customers, suppliers and management.

Key responsibilities

• Regularly travel to suppliers, abattoirs and processing sites across Australia and New Zealand
• Spend time on the factory floor understanding how operations are running and working directly with production teams
• Monitor supplier performance, including recovery, quality and operational results
• Discuss quality and performance results with suppliers and agree on practical actions
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, equipment, quality and operational performance
• Follow up agreed actions and make sure improvements are implemented
• Build strong working relationships with operators, site managers, supplier management and customers
• Provide practical support and advice within abattoir and production environments
• Identify equipment support and maintenance needs and coordinate follow-up where required
• Report key findings, risks, issues and opportunities to the Procurement Manager
• Support day-to-day procurement and supplier management activities
• Maintain accurate records and follow up supplier requirements and actions
• Work within all site safety, hygiene, quality and operational requirements

About you

We are looking for someone who is practical, approachable and willing to get involved.

You might come from a background in meat processing, production, maintenance, agriculture, farming, trades, operations, logistics or procurement. Experience in procurement is not essential — we are more interested in your practical experience, attitude and ability to learn.

You will ideally have:

• Practical experience working in a production, processing, abattoir, agricultural, trade or operational environment
• An understanding of how things work in a hands on operational environment
• The confidence to walk onto a production floor and speak comfortably with operators and site management
• A practical approach to identifying problems and finding workable solutions
• The ability to understand operational and quality issues and follow through on actions
• Good communication skills and the ability to build genuine relationships with suppliers and customers
• A professional and respectful approach when dealing with external stakeholders
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage your own time while travelling
• Basic computer skills and the ability to accurately record information and prepare reports
• A willingness to learn procurement and commercial processes
• A strong work ethic, common sense and a "roll up your sleeves and get involved" attitude
• The ability to work independently while also being part of a wider team
• Q Fever vaccination, or willingness to obtain Q Fever vaccination prior to commencing site based work

The type of person we're looking for

You may be someone who has spent years working in a processing plant, on a farm, in a trade or maintenance environment, or in operations and is now looking for an opportunity to broaden your skills.

You need to be comfortable wearing PPE, walking through a processing environment, talking to people on the floor, getting into the detail of an operation and then sitting down with a supplier or customer to discuss the findings professionally.

If you're practical, curious, good with people and enjoy solving problems rather than sitting behind a desk all day, we'd like to hear from you.

What do we offer you

Excellent employment conditions apply with a competitive salary and an attractive bonus scheme. Van Hessen also offers the opportunity to develop yourself through (internal) training and education opportunities.

Van Hessen is a professional company that not only strives for continuity, but also for creating enjoyable and challenging work with your own responsibility and freedom for you.

Equality and diversity

At Van Hessen, part of SARIA Group, we attach great importance to diversity and inclusion. We strive to create a work environment where everyone is respected and supported, regardless of gender, age, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability or social background. We expressly welcome applications from candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences and are actively committed to equal opportunities and the fight against discrimination.