Procurement Manager

We are looking for a hands-on Purchasing Manager to lead procurement for our client, an automotive assembly company, with a primary focus on indirect procurement. You will act as the technical expert and advisor to internal users, recommending the right specifications and identifying more cost-effective options. You will also source and qualify suppliers, negotiate prices, and prepare purchase orders for management approval.

This role works largely independently. We are looking for a reliable professional who can own each purchase end-to-end, from understanding the need through to completion. This is a managerial position, leading a team of 2–3 staff.

Key Responsibilities:

Indirect Procurement (80–90%): Engineering, Construction, Safety, and Other Projects

• Handle frequent engineering and construction requests, such as building extensions, repairs, and renovations.
• Review contractor proposals in technical detail, challenge specifications and pricing, and ensure quality, safety, and schedule requirements are met.
• Review existing safety equipment (e.g., fire extinguishers, firefighting equipment, and oxygen cylinders), and recommend replacements or upgrades where equipment is ageing or no longer fit for purpose.
• Propose the right type, model, and specification to users, with clear justification based on cost, performance, lifespan, and compliance with safety standards.
• Validate technical proposals and costs, benchmark vendors, identify savings, and recommend the best option to management.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify new suppliers and contractors, and maintain a reliable vendor base across indirect categories.
• Lead price negotiations and deliver measurable cost savings without compromising quality or safety.
• Prepare comparison sheets, recommendations, and purchase orders for management approval.
• Oversee purchasing of office and general supplies, including stationery, medical supplies, and office furniture.

Direct Procurement – Routine Operations (10–20%)

• Manage routine purchasing of paint and imported automotive assembly parts from overseas suppliers under existing contracts.
• Place orders and follow up on deliveries.
• Personally handle complex, technical, and high-value purchases, while guiding and reviewing the team's routine purchasing work.
• Ensure purchasing processes, documentation, and approvals comply with company policy and remain audit-ready.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Civil, or a related field) strongly preferred; candidates with a Supply Chain or Business degree and a strong technical background will also be considered.
• 10+ years of purchasing experience, including at least 5 years at supervisory or management level.
• Background in the automotive industry, ideally within an assembly plant.
• Solid technical knowledge of construction work, building materials, factory facilities, and industrial machinery.
• Proven ability to break down technical scopes, read quotations/BOQs, and negotiate with contractors and equipment suppliers.
• Good command of English (reading, writing, and communicating with overseas partners).