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.

Essential requirements:

- 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

- Solid 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

HOW TO APPLY

If you are passionate about quality and want to play a tangible role in Australia’s clean transport future, we would love to hear from you.

At Custom Denning, we are deeply committed to Reconciliation and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply.

Apply today or send your resume to **@customdenning.com.au

📌 Purchasing Officer (International Procurement) (Saint Marys)
🏢 Custom Bus Australia
📍 Saint Marys