[Hiring] Supplier Sourcing & Business Development Virtual Assistant @Virtual Colleague Philippines

Role Description

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
• 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
• 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
• Administrative Support
  • Email management
  • Data entry
  • Documentation management
  • Spreadsheet maintenance
  • Reporting
  • File organization
  • Process documentation
• Occasional Phone Support
  • Receive inbound calls
  • Make outbound calls
  • Clarify customer requirements
  • Contact suppliers when urgent clarification is needed
• Future Growth Opportunities
  • Managing additional VAs
  • Leading a Philippine support team
  • Training new staff
  • Managing supplier territories
  • Supporting international expansion
  • Process improvement
  • Business operations coordination

Qualifications

• 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.

Requirements

• 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
• Soft Skills
  • 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

Benefits

• 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

Ideal Candidate

• 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