Head of Purchasing NZ

RX Plastics Ltd; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid role after initial training

Onsite parking

Annual bonus

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Recognition Programs

Career development opportunities

Mentoring programs

DEI Council

Go for Zero safety

Job summary

Aliaxis New Zealand in Manurewa is seeking a Head of Purchasing NZ to lead the purchasing function across five sites. The role reports to the GM Supply Chain and balances hands-on leadership with strategic improvement initiatives.

You will modernise processes, uplift reporting and automation, drive supplier performance, and partner with stakeholders across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Finance and Sales to deliver measurable value.

Qualifications

• Experience leading purchasing/supply chain teams in manufacturing or building materials.
• Strong purchasing and supplier management across high-volume, complex product ranges.
• Proven track record in process improvement and operational excellence.
• Advanced analytical skills with data-driven decision making.
• Experience with ERP systems and reporting tools.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to influence at all levels and drive change.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop NZ Purchasing Team to high performance.
• Drive purchasing across direct and indirect categories.
• Review and standardise purchasing processes for efficiency and compliance.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement and automation.
• Develop supplier performance reporting for decision making.
• Build strong supplier partnerships and conduct reviews.
• Support procurement and sourcing initiatives including RFPs.
• Lead procurement compliance including trade and modern slavery.
• Drive data quality and reporting for future system upgrades.
• Partner with stakeholders across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Planning, Finance, Sales and Marketing.

Skills

Leadership

Purchasing management

Supplier management

Data analytics

ERP systems

Change management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Process improvement

Education

Tertiary qualifications in Supply Chain or related discipline

Tools

ERP systems

Reporting tools

Job description

Aliaxis exists to bring solutions to the world's water challenges and accelerate the transition to clean energy. We are a global leader in high-quality piping & fitting solutions for use in building, infrastructure, industrial and agricultural applications across the globe. Over 16,000 people work for us in more than 40 countries with 80 manufacturing sites.

As an integral part of Aliaxis, we supply the New Zealand and Pacific markets with high-quality plastic pipes, fittings and building materials. We are proud to deliver renowned brands Marley, RX Plastics and Dynex to the New Zealand market.

We are proud of our initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint, continuing to deliver the best solutions for our customers with minimal impact on the environment and a positive impact on our community, and we're looking for passionate people who want to be part of our journey and embrace the behaviours that we stand for:

• We Care for the environment, our customers and each other.
• We Dare to challenge the status quo, to innovate and to learn fast.
• We Deliver by taking accountability for our decisions and actions.

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Purchasing NZ to join our supportive team in Manurewa. This newly created leadership role will play a pivotal part in elevating and transforming the purchasing function across Aliaxis New Zealand.

Reporting to the GM Supply Chain, you'll lead a small team and take ownership of purchasing activities across five sites nationwide. This role is ideal for a hands‑on leader who thrives on balancing day‑to‑day operational purchasing, supports the APAC procurement team and drives strategic improvement initiatives.

We're looking for someone who loves rolling up their sleeves while also identifying smarter ways of working. You'll challenge the status quo, modernise processes, drive best practice, improve reporting and automation, and bring stakeholders and your team on the journey as we continue to strengthen our purchasing capability.

What you will do

• Lead and develop the NZ Purchasing Team, fostering a high-performing and engaged culture.
• Drive purchasing activities across direct and indirect categories to support operational requirements.
• Review, streamline and standardise purchasing processes to improve efficiency, compliance and service levels.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives, automation opportunities and best‑practice ways of working.
• Develop meaningful purchasing and supplier performance reporting to support business decision‑making.
• Build strong supplier partnerships and manage supplier performance through regular reviews.
• Support procurement and sourcing initiatives, including RFP activities and supplier engagement.
• Lead procurement compliance activities, including trade compliance and modern slavery obligations.
• Drive data quality, reporting capability and process readiness to support future system enhancements and business improvements.
• Partner with stakeholders across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Planning, Finance, Sales and Marketing to deliver positive outcomes.

About you

You are a commercially minded purchasing leader who enjoys creating structure, driving change and delivering practical results. You know how to balance competing priorities while maintaining strong service levels, but most importantly, you're a natural influencer who can bring people together, challenge existing processes constructively and embed lasting improvements. You're equally comfortable leading strategic initiatives as you are jumping into transactional purchasing activities.

You will bring

• Leadership experience managing and developing purchasing, buying or supply chain teams.
• Experience working within manufacturing, FMCG, plastic, building materials or similar operational environments.
• Strong purchasing and supplier management experience across high-volume, complex product ranges.
• Proven success driving process improvement, standardisation and operational excellence initiatives.
• Strong change management capability with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to leverage data to drive better business outcomes.
• Experience working with ERP systems and reporting tools.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship‑building skills.
• A continuous improvement mindset and passion for implementing best‑practice processes.
• Tertiary qualifications in Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline will be highly regarded.

Why Join Us? We Care

• Hybrid role after initial training, onsite parking and supportive team.
• You will enjoy working for a business that is conscious about what we do, how it operates and our impact on the environment.
• Annual bonus based on performance for eligible employees.
• Employee Assistance Program access for you and your immediate family.
• We take it further with our Employee Recognition Programs and Service Awards.
• Career development opportunities available at home and abroad.
• Opportunity to join our mentoring programs.
• Diversity, equity and inclusion is close to our heart, with opportunities to join our DEI Council.
• A safe work environment with a strong focus on Go for Zero.

Just a heads up – we are currently not accepting CVs from recruitment agencies. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation!

Aliaxis is proud to be an equal opportunity employer who welcomes candidates and employees from all backgrounds. We are committed to building and investing in a culture of belonging, where all our employees feel empowered, can be their true selves and are able to bring their best ideas forward and contribute to the company’s “Growth with Purpose” strategy.

For us, equity and belonging starts at the application step: whether it's offering flexibility in scheduling interviews, or ensuring a supportive and inclusive environment, we strive to remove barriers and create equal opportunities for all applicants. Should you have specific needs, please do not hesitate to let us know and we will do our best to accommodate.