Purchasing Specialist

About the company

Fonterra Te Mātāpuna is a global dairy co-operative owned by New Zealand dairy farmers. The organisation is built around care, collaboration, and contribution, and it offers people the chance to develop their careers while making a positive difference.

About the site

The Clandeboye facility is the company’s largest manufacturing site. It includes 11 plants and, at peak, processes up to 13 million litres of milk each day through some of the largest dryers in the world. More than 1,200 people work across the value stream, contributing a wide mix of skills and experience.

About the role

An opportunity is available for a proactive Purchasing Specialist who is organised, detail-focused, and committed to accuracy. The role supports better purchasing and inventory performance, works closely with vendors and procurement teams, and helps maintain dependable supply, correct pricing, and smooth operations.

You will also help protect data quality, support supplier performance, and ensure procurement standards and best practices are followed consistently.

Key duties

• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Handle purchasing tasks such as creating and approving purchase orders and keeping system records accurate.
• Track open purchase orders, invoice mismatches, blocked invoices, and delivery schedules.
• Partner with procurement teams to apply the right contract rates, terms, and master data.
• Follow procurement rules, system requirements, and contractual commitments.
• Assist with inventory and store activities, including goods receipting, stock transfers, and inwards/outwards logistics support.
• Look for ways to improve buying efficiency and optimise inventory levels.

About you

The ideal candidate is a self-managing purchasing professional who works well in a busy environment and takes pride in precise, compliant work. You should be comfortable building relationships, balancing priorities, and resolving issues before they affect operations.

Experience and technical background

• Hands-on experience in purchasing, procurement, or inventory management.
• Working knowledge of procurement processes and systems such as SAP, ECC, ARIBA, or similar platforms.
• Strong ability to organise work, prioritise tasks, and manage competing deadlines.
• Careful attention to detail with a strong focus on data accuracy and compliance.
• A proactive mindset for spotting and fixing problems early.
• Good communication skills and the ability to manage stakeholder relationships effectively.
• Confidence using multiple systems and general computer applications.

What the organisation offers

• Fair and equitable pay.
• Health and wellbeing support, including medical and mental health assistance.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Career growth support.
• Work-life balance options, including flexible or hybrid working where possible.
• Employee recognition.
• Support for community involvement and cultural connection.

Values and inclusion

Fonterra’s values are Good Together, Better Every Day, and Every Drop Counts. These guide the way the organisation works with farmers, customers, communities, and colleagues.

The company welcomes people from all backgrounds, including different ethnicities, genders, identities, orientations, ages, abilities, neurotypes, cultures, and religions. Applicants are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet every listed requirement, as potential and growth are valued. If accessibility support or accommodations are needed during the process, candidates can contact the recruiter.

Application deadline

Applications close at midnight on Sunday 28 June 2026.