Purchasing Officer in Melbourne

• Part-time role (0.8 FTE, based on 35 hours per week), commencing February 2027
• Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government

• Hybrid Working #LI-Hybrid
• Part-time role (0.8 FTE, based on 35 hours per week), commencing February 2027
• Maximum term 2-year contract
• Salary: $86k - $97k plus super (pro rata)
• Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government

About Merri-bek City Council

Merri-bek City Council is a progressive council of 195,125 residents: one community, proudly diverse. Our council area sits within the banks of the Merri Creek and the Moonee Ponds Creek, and includes Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner, Glenroy, Gowanbrae, Hadfield, Oak Park and Pascoe Vale. Our city is vibrant and energetic, known for its active community, cultural diversity, creative industries and the arts. Our long-term vision has ambitious goals for environmental sustainability, social justice, community wellbeing, and creating great places. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food and cafés right at the doorstep.

Merri-bek Council strives to be a contemporary, innovative and collaborative organisation with a deep commitment to engaging and supporting the Merri-bek community. Our organisational vision is to be one team, brave and diverse, making a difference.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We offer flexible and hybrid work options and genuinely care about providing our staff work/life balance. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food, cafés, parks and a cinema right at the doorstep. Merri-bek is a great place to live, work and play.

About the role

Help make purchasing simpler, more efficient and compliant at Merri-bek City Council.

Joining our Procurement team within Financial Services, you’ll be a practical first point of contact for staff and suppliers, providing advice on purchasing processes, purchase orders and approved purchasing arrangements. You’ll support staff through clear guidance and training, maintain purchase order records and help improve the way Council purchases goods and services.

You’ll coordinate supplier onboarding and vendor record maintenance, including independently verified bank-detail changes, and administer purchasing cards from application and training through to monitoring and cancellation. Working closely with Procurement, Finance and Accounts Payable, you’ll maintain accurate records, support reporting and audits, identify purchasing exceptions and contribute practical improvements that strengthen controls and customer service while maintaining appropriate separation of responsibilities.

Skills and experience required to perform the role

• Practical knowledge of purchasing processes, supplier verification and purchasing-card controls, with the ability to apply policies, financial delegations and procedures.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in maintaining vendor records, checking supporting documentation, reconciling information and keeping clear audit trails.
• Confidence using purchasing and financial systems and Excel to maintain data, investigate discrepancies and support reporting.
• Clear communication and customer service skills, with the ability to explain purchasing requirements and prepare practical guidance for staff and suppliers.
• Sound judgement and problem-solving skills to resolve routine enquiries, identify compliance risks and escalation matters appropriately.
• The ability to organise competing priorities, work collaboratively across teams and identify practical opportunities to improve processes.

What the role can offer

• Extensive opportunities for training & career development
• Salary sacrifice options
• A real sense of work-life balance & flexible work options
• Employer-supported study assistance schemes
• Wellness programs

Further support offered for our staff

• Up to 20 weeks primary & up to 5 weeks secondary parental leave
• Purchase leave
• Ceremonial leave
• Gender affirmation leave
• Family violence leave

For further information about this position please contact Michael Pogia on 8311 4129.

Applications close: 11:30pm, Sunday 15 November 2026.
*in the case that we receive a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to close this advertisement before the current closing date.

Merri-bek City Council is proudly diverse and an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, people with disability, and people from every culture, sexuality and gender identity, age and ethnic background. Merri-bek City Council is a Child Safe organisation.

Merri-bek is focused on diverse representation of the community we serve. With this we value lived experience that could contribute to the shaping of this role and in turn will continue to provide representation and growth of safe and inclusive work culture.

We encourage everyone to apply and discuss opportunities to develop your knowledge and experience. Council is committed to removing barriers and access to employment where possible at any point in the recruitment, onboarding and during your time at Council. For further information regarding access or modifications you may require for a recruitment process please contact Danni Jovanovic, Recruitment Business Partner on ***********@merri-bek.vic.gov.au

Our Commitment

In May 2021, Merri-bek Council adopted a revisedStatement of Commitmentto Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of the municipality. The statement recognises the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional owners of the lands and waterways of our municipality.

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse.We believe children and young people have the right to be and feel safe and that their safety and wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone. You can read more about ourChild Safety Commitment Statementon our website.

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