International Category Buyer (Australian Company)

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of Australia’s largest and most established petrol retail companies and be part of a growing, dynamic team!

Company Profile:

Our client is a well-established Australian fuel and convenience retailer with a large, nationwide network of service stations and retail sites.

The business supplies quality fuel at competitive prices and operates convenience retail locations that serve motorists and local communities.

Its operations also support commercial customers across a range of sectors, including transport, agriculture, marine and industrial businesses.

With a long operating history and a national footprint, the company offers the opportunity to support a complex, fast-moving operation serving both retail and business customers across Australia.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Sourcing & Distributor Management

• Manage sourcing and negotiation with a targeted list of international distributors (not open-ended factory prospecting)
• Conduct regional visits to assigned distributors/factories to evaluate product opportunities, negotiate pricing, and review capability across Asia
• Onboard and maintain vendor records for the defined distributor panel, verifying legal entity details, banking information (SWIFT/IBAN accuracy), and factory audit status
• Validate supplier social compliance certification (BSCI, SMETA, ISO) before onboarding is finalised
• Maintain and strengthen relationships across the existing distributor panel to drive category performance
• Will require a business case to be signed off inclusive of execution plans and timings for CEO/ Directors sign off

Product Data & Logistics Setup

• Own EAN/GTIN barcode assignment and validate against the GS1 registry
• Confirm master carton dimensions, weight (under 16kg for AU warehouse compliance), and pallet
• configuration (Ti-Hi) against Australian Standard Pallet specifications (1165 x 1165mm)
• Coordinate HS Code classification (10-digit) with the Customs Broker, confirming tariff rate and Free Trade Agreement eligibility (e.g., ChAFTA, AANZFTA)

Compliance & Regulatory Coordination

• Liaise with Australian QA to secure laboratory test reports confirming AS/NZS standards compliance ahead of production
• Verify biosecurity declarations with suppliers/brokers, ensuring packaging contains no raw or untreated wood/bark (DAFF requirements)
• Check Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) compliance, including correct AU standard labelling and imported by details

Master Data & Systems

• United existing data platform but this does not cover International product sourcing but instead product data to sell - the candidate will help design and build the master data / product tracking model from the ground up, in addition to using it
• Work with the Manila POD data team to execute final data entry into the Master Data system for every new product introduction
• Maintain data integrity across EANs, carton configurations, and HS codes to support clean customs pre-clearance via the Integrated Cargo System (ICS)

Stakeholder Consultation: Space Planning & POS

• Provide category and product expertise to the Store Planning & Initiatives team, who own site space planning and layout decisions - this role advises, it does not execute layouts directly
• Provide category and product input to the Marketing & Loyalty team, who own point-of-sale (POS) material and execution - this role consults, it does not produce POS materials directly
• This is a consultative relationship: the Category Manager brings sourcing and product knowledge to the table so these specialist teams can make informed decisions in their own domains

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Manage the new product introduction timeline end-to-end (typically 16 weeks: sourcing → compliance gate → financial sign-off → production → logistics → arrival)
• Coordinate with Merchandising/Planning on Total Landed Cost sign-off (duty, GST, freight)
• Act as the escalation point for supplier data gaps that threaten timeline or customs clearance

Requirements

Must-have Skills / Qualification:

• Minimum 5 years' experience as a Buyer, Sourcing Manager, or Category Manager with direct, hands-on international/regional sourcing experience (Asia-based suppliers)
• Demonstrated experience managing supplier onboarding, including vendor master setup and factory compliance auditing
• Working knowledge of import/export fundamentals: HS code classification, Incoterms, Free Trade Agreements, and customs clearance processes
• Experience coordinating cross-border product compliance (packaging, labelling, biosecurity, or destination- market product standards)
• Comfortable with regular regional travel for factory/distributor visits and supplier negotiations

Advantageous (not required)

• Australian retail experience - Knowledge of AS/NZS standards, DAFF requirements, and Country of Origin Labelling.
• GS1 & product data - Experience with barcodes, product information, and carton/pallet requirements.
• Master data systems - Experience building or setting up a product tracking/master data system.
• Customs & logistics - Experience working with customs brokers and freight forwarders.
• Retail planning - Exposure to space planning or planograms.
• Marketing collaboration - Experience providing product input for POS and marketing activities.
• Exposure to retail space planning or planogram

Skills & Attributes

• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of landed cost improvement
• High attention to detail - this role is accountable for data that directly determines customs and biosecurity outcomes
• Confident operating independently across time zones with limited direct oversight
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills for coordinating with Australian stakeholders
• Structured, process-driven approach; comfortable working to a stage-gated timeline with hard deadlines

Job Type: Full-Time Permanent

Schedule: Monday-Friday, Australian Business Hours

Location: Hybrid Setup

Industry: Petrol Retail