Purchasing Officer (International Procurement)

Custom Bus Australia; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Full-time permanent role

Sydney production facility

Hands-on EV manufacturing

Job summary

Custom Denning is seeking a Purchasing Officer with a strong background in international sourcing to manage complex overseas supply chains supporting our bus manufacturing program.

You will own end-to-end international procurement, collaborate with engineering, production and quality teams, and drive cost reductions while managing risks across multiple markets. This full-time role is based at our Sydney production facility.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in procurement or supply chain within manufacturing or engineering.
• Experience managing international procurement with offshore suppliers.
• Knowledge of Incoterms, customs/import processes, and international logistics.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management across different markets.
• Cross-functional collaboration with engineering, production and quality teams.
• BOM-driven procurement and change control.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end international procurement across a 7,000-item production line to ensure on-time arrival.
• Lead overseas supplier qualification and relationship management.
• Manage international freight, customs, Incoterms, and cross-border logistics.
• Collaborate with engineering and production on BOM alignment and supplier qualification.
• Manage long-lead and critical overseas components to support production schedules.
• Drive cost reduction and negotiate favourable terms with international suppliers.
• Identify and mitigate international supply chain risks including geopolitical and currency.
• Monitor FX exposure and work with finance on hedging/costing implications.
• Contribute to monthly reporting and procurement insights for international supply performance.
• Monitor procurement schedules and resolve shipment delays and customs holds.
• Support ESG, modern slavery, and local content reporting for overseas supply chains.

Skills

International procurement

Supply chain management

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Incoterms knowledge

Education

Manufacturing/Engineering procurement experience

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365 (ERP/MRP)

Job description

Purchasing Officer (International Procurement)

Purchasing Officer (International procurement)

Location: St Mary's, NSW

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

ABOUT CUSTOM DENNING

At Custom Denning, we're a proudly Australian manufacturer and at the forefront of designing, manufacturing, and supporting next-generation transport solutions such as zero-emissions electric buses.

As public transport transitions to cleaner technologies, Custom Denning plays a critical role in delivering compliant, high-performance vehicles that meet stringent regulatory, safety and contractual requirements. Join a respected manufacturer where contract discipline, accountability and delivery excellence truly matter.

We're now seeking a Purchasing Officer with a strong background in international sourcing to manage complex overseas supply chains supporting our bus manufacturing program.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Procurement Manager, the Purchasing Officer will take ownership of strategic sourcing activities across vehicle components and raw materials, with a particular focus on overseas and international suppliers. You will work closely with engineering, production, quality, and finance teams to ensure cost-effective, compliant, and reliable supply to support on‑time bus production.

This role suits a commercially astute procurement professional with deep experience managing international supply chains in manufacturing, automotive, rolling stock, or heavy engineering environments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage end-to-end international procurement across a production line with over 7,000 individual items, ensuring on-time arrival to avoid production delays
• Lead sourcing, qualification, and relationship management of overseas suppliers, including managing time zones, language, cultural and logistical complexities
• Manage international freight, customs, Incoterms, import compliance, and cross-border logistics in coordination with freight forwarders and customs brokers
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams on BOM alignment, technical sourcing, and supplier qualification
• Manage long-lead and critical overseas components to support production schedules
• Drive cost reduction and negotiate favourable commercial terms with international suppliers, accounting for currency, tariffs, and landed cost
• Identify and mitigate international supply chain risks - including geopolitical, currency, logistics, and single-source risk
• Manage FX exposure considerations and work with finance on hedging/costing implications of overseas purchasing
• Contribute to accurate monthly reporting and procurement insights, with visibility of international supply performance
• Monitor international procurement schedules and proactively resolve issues, including shipment delays and customs holds
• Support ESG, modern slavery, and local content reporting requirements, particularly relevant to overseas supply chains

ABOUT YOU

• You are a confident, hands-on procurement professional who understands the realities of manufacturing environments and the added complexity of sourcing from international markets.
• 5+ years' experience in procurement or supply chain roles within manufacturing or engineering
• Demonstrated experience managing international/overseas procurement, including working directly with offshore suppliers
• Working knowledge of Incoterms, customs/import processes, and international logistics
• Strong experience negotiating commercial contracts and managing suppliers across different markets and cultures
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, production, and quality teams
• Sound understanding of BOM-driven procurement and change control
• Strong analytical, commercial, and stakeholder management skills

HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Experience sourcing from Asia, Europe, or other key manufacturing regions relevant to bus/vehicle components
• Experience in bus, truck, automotive, rail, or defence manufacturing
• ERP/MRP experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365
• Familiarity with FX risk and landed cost modelling

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary, reviewed annually - we invest in our people
• Join Australia's only local, fully electric bus manufacturer - a genuinely rare opportunity
• A stable, full-time permanent role in a business that's growing fast and built for the future
• A down-to-earth team that's got your back, with safety at the heart of everything we do
• Get hands-on with cutting-edge EV manufacturing technology - not just talk about the future, build it
• Work out of our modern, purpose-built Sydney production facility
• Real influence - help shape and mature the safety and quality framework as we scale
• Direct line to senior leadership - your ideas won't get lost in layers of management