Purchasing Officer - Manufacturing

Brimarco has been a respected Australian manufacturer of heavy-duty trailers and custom vehicles for 50 years. We design and build high-quality, engineered products for a wide range of industries including agriculture, transport, government, emergency services, commercial and industrial sectors - and our supply chain plays a vital role in supporting our production capability.

We are seeking an experienced Purchasing Officer who is commercially minded, confident dealing with suppliers, and committed to supporting a busy manufacturing environment.

About the Role

As Purchasing Officer, you will source and purchase the materials, components, and services required to keep production moving, working closely with Production, Engineering, and other internal stakeholders to ensure timely, cost-effective procurement and accurate cost control.

Key Responsibilities

·    Source and purchase materials, components, and consumables to meet production needs and Brimarco’s quality standards, including identifying new or alternative suppliers

·    Obtain and evaluate competitive quotes, and negotiate pricing, terms and lead times with suppliers

·    Maintain your own forward view of purchasing requirements against the build program, so long-lead items are identified and ordered in time

·    Monitor stock levels and production schedules to prevent shortages or excess inventory, adjusting purchasing plans as build priorities change

·    Monitor procurement costs and identify opportunities for savings without compromising quality

·    Support improvements to purchasing workflows that enhance efficiency and reduce waste

·    Monitor supplier performance across pricing, quality and on-time delivery, and use it to drive improvement conversations and resolve issues as they arise

·    Process purchase orders and documentation accurately, and maintain purchasing records, pricing and supplier data within the ERP system

·    Track deliveries and follow up on overdue or urgent orders, and assist with receiving deliveries, inventory records, and stocktakes

What Success Looks Like in This Role

Experience matters, but so does the way you work. The following is what makes someone successful in this role:

·    Commercial judgement. You understand that every purchase affects margin, and you weigh price, lead time, quality and total cost together.

·    Staying ahead of the plan. Production schedules move. You keep your own forward view of what is needed and when, and adjust it as builds shift.

·    An improver’s instinct. You take an interest in how the purchasing function could work better - a smarter process, a stronger supplier arrangement, cleaner data - and you are proactive in making it happen.

·    Confidence in negotiation. You are comfortable asking a supplier for a better price, a shorter lead time or a clear explanation of an increase, and you can hold a position through to a good outcome.

·    Credibility with suppliers. To our supply base, you are Brimarco - professional, direct and straightforward to deal with, whether the conversation is a routine order or a difficult one.

·    Financial literacy. You are comfortable with the financial side of purchasing - cost of goods, freight, GST, moving average cost - and how a purchase order flows through to invoicing, reconciliation and payment.

·    Product knowledge. You ask questions and build a working understanding of why a component is needed, what it does and when it has to arrive.

·    Curiosity about the detail. When a price moves, a specification looks unusual or a quantity seems off, you raise it early and get to the bottom of it.

·    Initiative. You anticipate shortages, chase overdue orders and see an issue through to resolution.

What You’ll Need

Essential:

·    Previous hands-on experience in purchasing, procurement, or supplier management, preferably within a manufacturing, engineering, or industrial environment

·    Strong analytical and numerical skills, with high attention to detail and accuracy in documentation

·    Demonstrated ethical conduct, professionalism, and ability to manage confidential or sensitive information

·    Ability to interpret basic technical drawings or specifications (or willingness to learn)

·    Proficiency in MS Office and experience with ERP, inventory, or financial systems

Also Helpful:

·    Understanding of lead times, BOMs (Bills of Materials), engineered components, or production workflows

·    Experience buying for vehicle, trailer or heavy fabrication builds

·    Formal qualifications in business, logistics, accounting or supply chain

What We Offer

·    A stable, long-standing Australian manufacturer with 50 years of success

·    A collaborative, supportive team environment where your contribution is valued and recognised

·    The opportunity to contribute to meaningful, high-quality engineered products

·    Competitive salary and genuine opportunities for skill development and career progression

If this sounds like your kind of role, we’d love to hear from you.

Please apply with your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience. We’ll shortlist as applications come in, with interviews to follow shortly after.