Supplier Sourcing & Business Development Virtual Assistant

Supplier Sourcing & Business Development Virtual Assistant

(Chemical Supply Chain & Procurement Support) About the Company An Australian chemical distribution and logistics company specializing in sourcing, supplying, and distributing chemicals across various industries including mining, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, laboratories, universities, and research institutions.

The company sources products locally within Australia and internationally across Asia—including India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam—to provide customers with competitive pricing and reliable logistics solutions.

With increasing customer demand and expansion plans into New Zealand, North America, Europe, and Asia, the business is looking for its first long-term Virtual Assistant who can help build scalable supplier networks and customer relationships while supporting future international growth.

Position

Overview

We are seeking a proactive, highly organized, and commercially minded Virtual Assistant to support supplier sourcing, procurement research, customer inquiries, and business development.

Unlike a traditional administrative VA, this role requires someone who enjoys research, relationship building, and creating organized systems that will allow the company to scale internationally.

The successful candidate will become a key member of the business, helping establish supplier databases, communicate with manufacturers and distributors worldwide, assist with customer quotations, and eventually grow into a leadership role managing future VAs as the company expands.

Primary

Responsibilities

Supplier Research & Database Development

Research Australian chemical suppliers

Research international suppliers across

India

China

Malaysia

Indonesia

Vietnam

Build and maintain a centralized supplier database

Gather supplier product catalogs

Identify preferred suppliers by region

Organize supplier information by

Products

Chemical grades

Geographic location

Lead times

Logistics capability

Maintain updated supplier records The client emphasized that creating a comprehensive supplier database is one of the highest priorities for scaling the business. Procurement & Sourcing Support

Source products based on customer inquiries

Compare suppliers

Request quotations

Gather product specifications

Verify product availability

Research alternative suppliers

Monitor pricing trends

Assist with procurement decisions

Support logistics coordination Supplier Relationship Management

Reach out to suppliers via professional email

Request catalogs and pricing

Build long-term supplier relationships

Follow up on outstanding requests

Coordinate documentation

Maintain communication records

Escalate supplier issues when necessary Customer Inquiry Support

Respond to inbound customer inquiries

Assist in gathering quotation information

Coordinate customer requests

Follow up on sales inquiries

Organize customer information

Assist with lead qualification

Support proposal preparation The VA will initially support existing inquiries before proactively expanding supplier and customer networks. Sales & Business Development

Conduct market research

Research potential customers

Identify companies requiring chemical products

Build prospect lists

Maintain CRM/database

Follow up on sales opportunities

Support business growth initiatives

Assist with regional expansion Documentation & Compliance Support

Organize Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Maintain product documentation

Upload compliance documents

Assist with Australian regulatory documentation

Organize downloadable product resources

Ensure accurate record keeping The client plans to build an Australian-compliant library of Safety Data Sheets that the VA will help organize and distribute to customers.

Administrative

Support

Email management

Data entry

Documentation management

Spreadsheet maintenance

Reporting

File organization

Process documentation Occasional Phone Support

Although approximately 90% of communication is via email, the VA may occasionally:

Receive inbound calls

Make outbound calls

Clarify customer requirements

Contact suppliers when urgent clarification is needed The client expects phone communication to be infrequent and primarily for urgent matters.

Future Growth

Opportunities

This position is designed as a long-term role with significant career progression.

Future responsibilities may include

Managing additional VAs

Leading a Philippine support team

Training new staff

Managing supplier territories

Supporting international expansion

Process improvement

Business operations coordination The client specifically shared his vision of establishing a satellite office in the Philippines, with the first VA potentially growing into a Team Leader role.

Required

Skills

Technical Skills

Supplier sourcing

Procurement support

Internet research

Email communication

Data management

Excel / Google Sheets

Database management

Documentation management

CRM experience (preferred)

Microsoft Outlook

Business writing Preferred Background

Experience in one or more of the following:

Chemical industry

Chemical distribution

Supply chain

Procurement

Purchasing

Logistics

Industrial products

Manufacturing

Business Development

B2B Sales

Chemical industry experience is preferred but not mandatory, as training will be provided. Soft Skills The client specifically highlighted the following qualities:

Excellent written English

Professional communication

Strong interpersonal skills

Time management

Cultural awareness

Emotional maturity

Resilience when dealing with difficult suppliers or customers

Ability to represent the company professionally

Strong organizational skills

Initiative

Attention to detail

Long-term mindset Tools The VA will primarily work with:

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Office

Excel

Shared email accounts

Supplier databases

Online research platforms

Company website

Future CRM/database systems

Potential future tools

Cloud-based phone system

CRM platform

Shared supplier database Working Hours

Part-Time

Initial commitment

10 hours per week

Flexible schedule

Daily consistency preferred rather than completing all hours in one day

Availability for occasional urgent requests The client emphasized that the work should be spread consistently throughout the week to ensure timely supplier and customer follow-ups.

Ideal

Candidate The ideal VA is someone who:

Enjoys research

Thinks proactively

Can build organized systems

Loves solving problems

Communicates professionally

Wants long-term career growth

Is comfortable working independently

Wants to become part of a growing international business

Back to blog

Other Jobs To Apply

No other job posts for this day.

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...