Procurement & Supplier Relationship Manager (Melbourne)

This is a newly created role
- and it’s a big one. You’ll be the critical link between our supply plan and our external supplier base, owning procurement execution, supplier relationships, co‑manufacturer coordination, and international freight management. You won’t be inheriting a neat playbook. You’ll be building procurement processes from the ground up in one of Australia’s fastest‑growing FMCG brands. If you’re the kind of person who gets energy from creating structure, solving problems, and building relationships that actually move the needle
- this role is made for you. What You’ll Do Procurement & Purchase Order Management
- Receive purchase requirements from our Supply Planner and place POs across all supplier categories – packaging, co‑packing, co‑manufacturing, and raw materials
- Track orders through to delivery, manage amendments, and escalare delays before they become problems
- Own the PO tracker as the single source of truth for procurement status Supplier Relationship Management
- Build and manage relationships with 10–20+ suppliers across packaging, ingredients, and manufacturing
- Run quarterly supplier performance reviews using formal scorecards (OTD, in‑full, quality, responsiveness)
- Working alongside the Head of Supply Chain & operations to negotiate pricing, MOQs, payment terms, and lead times to optimise cost and working capital
- Manage the approved supplier list and onboarding process for new suppliers Co‑Manufacturer & Co‑Packer Coordination
- Be the primary operational contact for all co‑manufacturing and co‑packing partners
- Align production schedules with Funday’s supply plan and secure production slots and capacity
- Coordinate material supply to co‑manufacturers to prevent production delays
- Manage first production runs for NPD launches alongside our quality & product team International Freight
- Manage end‑to‑end international freight for imported gummy materials from two overseas suppliers (4–5‑month lead times)
- Coordinate with freight forwarders on shipping, documentation, container tracking, and customs clearance
- Maintain daily visibility of in‑transit inventory and provide weekly ETA updates NPD Sourcing & Cost Management
- Work with our quality and product teams to source current suppliers and co‑manufacturers to support our NPD pipeline
- Track material cost variances against budget and identify savings opportunities
- Provide procurement inputs for the monthly S&OP; cycle and support Finance with landed cost modelling About You
- 3–5+ years in procurement, purchasing, or supply chain – ideally in FMCG, food manufacturing, or consumer goods
- Demonstrated experience managing supplier relationships and negotiating commercial terms
- Experience with purchase order management across multiple supplier categories
- Strong organisational skills – you can juggle competing priorities without dropping the ball
- Confident communicator who can be the go‑to contact for a diverse supplier base
- Commercial acumen – comfortable with pricing, MOQs, payment terms, and cost modelling
- Advanced Excel or Google Sheets skills for PO tracking, cost analysis, and reporting Bonus points if you have:
- Experience with international freight management (sea freight, customs, freight forwarders)
- Experience working with contract manufacturers or co‑packers in food or confectionery
- Understanding of S&OP; processes and how procurement fits into the planning cycle
- Experience in a high‑growth business where processes are being built, not just maintained
- Knowledge of food safety and supplier compliance requirements in Australia
- Experience with Unleashed inventory management software (or similar) The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here
- Builder mindset – you’d rather create a process from scratch than inherit someone else’s
- Relationship‑driven – you naturally build trust and rapport with suppliers and internal stakeholders
- Detail‑oriented – PO accuracy, cost tracking, and documentation matter to you
- Proactive problem‑solver – you spot issues before they become crises and come with solutions
- Comfortable with ambiguity – we’re a fast‑growing business and not everything is documented yet What We Offer
- The chance to build the procurement function from the ground up at Australia’s fastest‑growing better‑for‑you confectionery brand
- A collaborative, high‑energy team that’s passionate about what they do
- Direct impact on business performance – your work will directly influence service levels, cost, and growth
- A clear career pathway to Senior Procurement Manager or Supply Chain Manager as we scale
- Competitive salary + superannuation
- And yes – plenty of free sweets #J-18808-Ljbffr Apply on Kit Job: kitjobau.com/job/3rw31l