Purchasing Officer

Merri-bek; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 45,000 - 70,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Training & career development

Salary sacrifice options

Work-life balance

Study assistance schemes

Wellness programs

Job summary

Merri-bek City Council is seeking a part-time Procurement Officer to join our Financial Services team in Victoria. You will guide purchasing processes, verify supplier information, manage purchase orders and card controls, and train staff on compliant procurement.

The role offers hybrid work options, salary sacrifice, and strong focus on work-life balance and service to the Merri-bek community. The position supports staff through clear guidance and training, maintains purchase order records, and

Qualifications

• Practical knowledge of purchasing processes, supplier verification and purchasing-card controls.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in maintaining vendor records and audit trails.
• Confident use of purchasing and financial systems and Excel for data maintenance and reporting.
• Clear communication and customer service skills to explain requirements and provide guidance.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance on purchasing processes, purchase orders, and approved arrangements.
• Coordinate supplier onboarding and vendor record maintenance, including bank-detail changes.
• Maintain purchase records, support reporting and audits, and strengthen controls.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Finance and Accounts Payable to improve processes.

Skills

Purchasing processes

Vendor verification

Purchasing-card controls

Excel reporting

Interpersonal communication

Tools

Excel

Job description

• Part-time role (0.8 FTE, based on 35 hours per week), commencing February 2027
• Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government

About Merri-bek City Council

Merri-bek City Council is a progressive council of 195,125 residents: one community, proudly diverse. Our council area sits within the banks of the Merri Creek and the Moonee Ponds Creek, and includes Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner, Glenroy, Gowanbrae, Hadfield, Oak Park and Pascoe Vale. Our city is vibrant and energetic, known for its active community, cultural diversity, creative industries and the arts. Our long-term vision has ambitious goals for environmental sustainability, social justice, community wellbeing, and creating great places. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food and cafés right at the doorstep.

Merri-bek Council strives to be a contemporary, innovative and collaborative organisation with a deep commitment to engaging and supporting the Merri-bek community. Our organisational vision is to be one team, brave and diverse, making a difference.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We offer flexible and hybrid work options and genuinely care about providing our staff work/life balance. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food, cafés, parks and a cinema right at the doorstep. Merri-bek is a great place to live, work and play.

About the role

Help make purchasing simpler, more efficient and compliant at Merri-bek City Council.

Joining our Procurement team within Financial Services, you’ll be a practical first point of contact for staff and suppliers, providing advice on purchasing processes, purchase orders and approved purchasing arrangements. You’ll support staff through clear guidance and training, maintain purchase order records and help improve the way Council purchases goods and services.

You’ll coordinate supplier onboarding and vendor record maintenance, including independently verified bank-detail changes, and administer purchasing cards from application and training through to monitoring and cancellation. Working closely with Procurement, Finance and Accounts Payable, you’ll maintain accurate records, support reporting and audits, identify purchasing exceptions and contribute practical improvements that strengthen controls and customer service while maintaining appropriate separation of responsibilities.

Skills and experience required to perform the role

• Practical knowledge of purchasing processes, supplier verification and purchasing-card controls, with the ability to apply policies, financial delegations and procedures.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in maintaining vendor records, checking supporting documentation, reconciling information and keeping clear audit trails.
• Confidence using purchasing and financial systems and Excel to maintain data, investigate discrepancies and support reporting.
• Clear communication and customer service skills, with the ability to explain purchasing requirements and prepare practical guidance for staff and suppliers.
• Sound judgement and problem‑solving skills to resolve routine enquiries, identify compliance risks and escalation matters appropriately.
• The ability to organise competing priorities, work collaboratively across teams and identify practical opportunities to improve processes.

What the role can offer

• Extensive opportunities for training & career development
• Salary sacrifice options
• A real sense of work-life balance & flexible work options
• Employer-supported study assistance schemes
• Wellness programs

Further support offered for our staff

• Up to 20 weeks primary & up to 5 weeks secondary parental leave
• Purchase leave
• Ceremonial leave
• Gender affirmation leave
• Family violence leave

For further information about this position please contact Michael Pogia on 8311 4129.

Applications close: 11:30pm, Sunday 15 November 2026.
*in the case that we receive a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to close this advertisement before the current closing date.

Please note that some documents relating to this position may reference Moreland City Council. We are in the process of updating the councils new name of Merri-bek City Council.

Merri-bek City Council is proudly diverse and an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, people with disability, and people from every culture, sexuality and gender identity, age and ethnic background. Merri-bek City Council is a Child Safe organisation.

Merri-bek is focused on diverse representation of the community we serve. With this we value lived experience that could contribute to the shaping of this role and in turn will continue to provide representation and growth of safe and inclusive work culture.

We encourage everyone to apply and discuss opportunities to develop your knowledge and experience. Council is committed to removing barriers and access to employment where possible at any point in the recruitment, onboarding and during your time at Council. For further information regarding access or modifications you may require for a recruitment process please contact Danni Jovanovic, Recruitment Business Partner on [e-mail]

Our Commitment

In May 2021, Merri-bek Council adopted a revised Statement of Commitment to Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of the municipality. The statement recognises the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional owners of the lands and waterways of our municipality.

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse. We believe children and young people have the right to be and feel safe and that their safety and wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone. You can read more about our Child Safety Commitment Statement on our website.

Privacy Acknowledgement

Merri-bek City Council's recruitment system, medical, police check, reference checking and onboarding processes are hosted by external service providers who also recognise the importance of privacy. By proceeding with your application, you acknowledge that your personal information will be hosted by these external service providers unless you request us not to do so.

Personal and or health information collected by Council is used for municipal purposes as specified in the Local Government Act 2020. The personal and or health information will be used by Council for these purposes and or related purposes. Council may disclose this information to other organisations if authorised or required by legislation. The applicant understands that the personal and or health information provided is for the above purpose and that they may apply to Council for access to and/or amendment of the information.

Please note that the information provided as part of your application will not be accessed by anyone other than the People and Safety Branch and the hiring manager.

Acknowledgement

By submitting this application, I declare that to the best of my knowledge, the information supplied in this application (including accompanying documents) are true and correct. I understand that if any false or deliberately misleading information is given, or any relevant material withheld, my application will not be progressed, or if I am employed, my employment may be terminated at the discretion of Council. I further understand that any offer of employment is subject to all the pre-employment checks appropriate to the role being completed to the satisfaction of the Council.

Consent to Contact Referees

I understand that a representative of Merri-bek will contact me to gain my permission to contact any listed referee's before conducting a reference.

Preliminary Health Declaration

All applicants are required to complete a Preliminary Health Declaration as part of the application process. Merri-bek City Council advises that failure to disclose any pre-existing or past relevant physical restrictions, injury or condition, suffered by you which may affect your ability to fulfil inherent requirements of the position(s) applied for may result in you being disentitled to claim compensation. This is in accordance with the current Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act in respect of any further injury or illness, recurrence, exacerbation or aggravation of this injury, disease or condition.

Working With Children Checks

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe organisation and providing environments that are safe for children and young people. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and harm. If the role you are applying for requires a Working with Children Check, you will be required to upload a copy of this document as part of your application.

Qualifications/Licences

Evidence of relevant qualifications and/or licences as required for the position you are applying for will need to be uploaded as part of your application.

• Yes I agree to the privacy statement *