Procurement Specialist (Supervisor Level)

JOB DESCRIPTION

R&D and New Product Development (NPD) Procurement

• Early Supplier Involvement (ESI): Engage with R&D and design engineers at the concept stage to evaluate design feasibility from a sourcing perspective (Design for Manufacturing/DFM).

• RFQuote to RFAward Management: Issue Requests for Information (RFI) and Requests for Quotation (RFQ) to automotive-grade suppliers for prototype and pre-production parts.

• APQP & PPAP Tracking: Monitor supplier progress against Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) milestones and ensure timely submission of Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) packages.

• Tooling Management: Oversee the procurement, tracking, and ownership documentation of specialized supplier tooling (molds, dies, jigs, fixtures).

• Mass Production Handover: Smoothly transition component sourcing from the R&D/Project phase to the Mass Production purchasing team, ensuring zero supply disruption at SOP (Start of Production).

General (Indirect) Procurement & Facility Support

• Indirect Spend Management: Supervise the procurement of MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) materials, factory consumables, safety equipment (PPE), and corporate services.

• CAPEX Procurement: Handle capital expenditure sourcing, including warehouse machinery, assembly line robots, test laboratory equipment, and facility expansions.

• Contract & SLA Management: Draft, review, and legally secure non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), master service agreements (MSAs), and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for indirect vendors.

Cost Management & Negotiation

• Target Costing Alignment: Analyze R&D Bill of Materials (BOM) costs and actively negotiate with suppliers to meet or beat the vehicle program’s target cost.

• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis: Evaluate sourcing options based on TCO, including piece price, logistics costs, customs duties, packaging, and tooling amortizations.

• Cost Reduction Initiatives: Drive continuous cost-down activities (VA/VE - Value Analysis/Value Engineering) even after mass production has commenced.

Supplier Relationship & Risk Management

• Supplier Audit & Selection: Lead cross-functional teams (with Quality and Engineering) to conduct on-site audits of potential suppliers’ manufacturing capabilities and IATF 16949 compliance.

• Risk Mitigation: Identify sole-source dependencies in new R&D designs and develop dual-sourcing strategies to protect the mass production line from supply chain disruptions.

• Supplier Performance Monitoring: Monthly evaluation of supplier Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) regarding Quality, Cost, Delivery, and Development (QCDD).

Team Leadership & Internal Governance

• Team Supervision: Delegate tasks, mentor, and evaluate the performance of junior buyers and procurement officers.

• Compliance & Ethics: Ensure all procurement activities comply with company policies, local government regulations, and automotive industry ethical standards.

• ERP Data Integrity: Supervise the accurate setup of info records, purchase orders, and source lists in the ERP system (e.g., SAP, Oracle).

REQUIREMENT:

• Bachelor’s degree.

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or purchasing, preferably within the automotive, manufacturing, or industrial sector.

• Proven experience in R&D procurement, New Product Development (NPD), or project procurement, including sourcing prototype and pre-production components.

• Strong understanding of RFQ/RFI processes, supplier selection, price negotiation, and sourcing strategy.

• Strong attention to detail, integrity, and commitment to procurement compliance and ethical standards.

• Good communication in English, both written and verbal.