Strategic Procurement Associate

Job Title:

Strategic Procurement Associate

Placement:

Surabaya

Contract:

Full Time

Procurement at SMS Perkasa isn't just about placing orders—it's the engine driving our profitability and growth. Sitting at the intersection of market trends, inventory, and working capital, your decisions on what, when, and how much to buy directly shape our competitive edge. We are looking for a commercially-minded, analytical, and proactive Strategic Procurement Associate who thrives on asking difficult questions, leveraging data, and negotiating strategically. If you are a curious problem-solver ready to combine human judgment with AI and analytics, this is your chance to make a real impact. Fresh graduates with exceptional potential are highly encouraged to apply!

Who are we?

SMS Perkasa is a fast-growing steel and building materials distributor based in Surabaya. While we operate in a traditional industry, our approach is anything but. We leverage data, AI, automation, and experimentation to revolutionize how we understand our customers, manage inventory, and collaborate with suppliers. Our culture is fast-paced, highly entrepreneurial, and built on continuous improvement. We value independent thinkers who learn quickly, challenge assumptions, and execute with reliability.

What are your responsibilities?

As a Strategic Procurement Associate, you will be the bridge between market insights and commercial execution. Your key responsibilities include:

• Strategic Decision Making: Translate market intel (pricing, availability, trends) and customer demand into actionable procurement strategies. Answer the critical question: "Given market conditions, what should we do—and why?"
• Data & AI Utilization: Leverage internal data, dashboards, and AI tools to research markets, evaluate purchasing scenarios, and optimize decision-making.
• Margin & Inventory Optimization: Balance product availability, profitability, and working capital to determine optimal purchasing quantities and timing.
• Supplier Sourcing & Evaluation: Identify, compare, and build a robust, competitive supplier network based on reliability and capability.
• Comprehensive Negotiation: Go beyond price. Negotiate payment terms, lead times, delivery schedules, and commercial terms to strengthen our market position.
• Performance & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Monitor supplier performance (quality, responsiveness) to improve future sourcing. Work closely with Sales, Operations, Finance, and Management to resolve constraints and support profitable growth.
• Disciplined Execution & Process Improvement: Ensure accurate POs, pricing, and data management while continuously seeking better ways to perform procurement through automation and refined frameworks.

What do you need to bring to the table?

We care more about how you think than how many years you've worked. You belong here if you:

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field. (Fresh graduates/early-career professionals are welcome).
• Possess strong analytical skills and a genuine enthusiasm for turning data into decisions.
• Are naturally curious, critical thinkers who ask "why?" and "is there a better way?" instead of just following instructions.
• Have sharp commercial instincts regarding supply, demand, pricing, and cash flow.
• Are tech-savvy and excited to integrate AI and data tools into your daily workflow.
• Demonstrate strong communication and confident negotiation skills.
• Are highly proactive, detail-oriented, and capable of making thoughtful decisions even when information is incomplete.
• Operate with high integrity, understanding that procurement requires immense trust and accountability. (Industry experience is a plus, but strong judgment and high learning agility are our priorities).

What do we offer?

• Real Ownership: No mundane tasks. You'll tackle real problems and earn progressively greater responsibilities early in your career.
• Holistic Business Understanding: Learn exactly how a business functions as you connect the dots between suppliers, inventory, cash flow, and sales.
• AI & Data-Driven Environment: Master modern tools that augment human decision-making.
• Steep Learning Curve & Growth: A merit-based environment where good ideas win, regardless of seniority. As your impact grows, so does your career.
• Competitive Compensation & Benefits: We reward strong performance, continuous development, and meaningful contributions.

Are you ready to join us?

If you're looking for a comfortable job where you just follow a set process, this isn't for you. But, if you want to sharpen your business judgment, negotiation skills, and analytical prowess while helping modernize one of Indonesia's most vital industries, we want to meet you.