Head of Operation (VP Level - Strategic Supply Chain & Procurement)

SawitPRO; Kota Pekanbaru; On-site; IDR 300.000.000 - 400.000.000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agri-input company based in Pekanbaru seeks a Head of Operation to lead strategic supply chain and procurement efforts across Indonesia. The successful candidate will have 15–20 years of experience in supply chain management, and will be responsible for overseeing fulfillment operations, managing vendor relationships, and executing high-quality procurement strategies. This is a critical role for supporting rapid growth in the company's agri-input e-commerce and plantation services.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15–20 years of relevant leadership experience in supply chain and procurement.
• Experience as Vice President (min 2 years) or General Manager (min 5 years).
• Proven success managing large, distributed teams in Indonesia.

Responsibilities

• Oversee supply chain operations across Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.
• Direct the execution of plantation services including agronomist visits and consultations.
• Lead procurement processes ensuring cost control and supplier relationships.

Skills

Leadership in supply chain management

Strategic planning

Vendor negotiation

Operational excellence

Stakeholder management

Job description

Head of Operation (VP Level - Strategic Supply Chain & Procurement)

As the Leader of Operations department, you will oversee and lead the strategic and day‑to‑day execution of three key divisions: Supply Chain, Procurement, and Plantation Services. This role is pivotal in scaling operational capabilities to support the company’s fast‑growing agri‑input e‑commerce and value‑added plantation service offerings across Indonesia. You will be critical in ensuring efficient end‑to‑end fulfillment, high‑quality service delivery, and cost‑effective procurement that aligns with business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Supply Chain Operations

  Lead national agri‑input end‑to‑end fulfillment operations (fertilizer, agrochemical, seeds, seedlings) across Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.

  Optimize warehouse network, route planning, logistics, distribution centre strategy, last‑mile delivery, and inventory level and planning.

  Ensure SLA compliance, order accuracy, and cost efficiency.

  Work with the Head of Supply Chain to drive performance and scalability, and real‑time order tracking.

• Plantation Services

  Direct the execution of value‑added services, including agronomist visits, demo plots, drone mapping, leaf sampling, and online consultations.

  Build service SOPs, coverage plans, workforce allocation models and define service quality standards, territory coverage models, and field resource planning.

  Collaborate cross‑functionally with product and commercial teams for service packaging and monetisation.

  Work with the Head of Plantation Services in team building, service delivery, and innovation.

• Procurement (Direct & Indirect)

  Strategically lead and manage direct sourcing of high‑volume inputs (fertiliser, agrochemicals, seedlings) and indirect spend (rent, IT, office needs).

  Build a reliable vendor base and maintain strong supplier relationships, and lead negotiations to secure favourable contracts.

  Strengthen cost control, compliance, and risk management in procurement processes.

  Support the Procurement Lead in implementing efficient sourcing and supplier evaluation systems to ensure procurement transparency, compliance, and cost optimisation.

• Strategic Leadership & Execution

  Translate business objectives into scalable operational plans.

  Translate growth targets into operational execution plans.

  Drive a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

  Collaborate with Product, Tech, Commercial, and Finance teams to align strategies.

  Set performance metrics and drive continuous improvement across divisions.

  Identify and mitigate operational risks while supporting rapid growth.

  Act as a key executive team member, collaborating with product, tech, commercial, and finance leaders.

Requirements

• Must‑Haves:
  • Minimum 15–20 years of relevant leadership experience in supply chain, palm oil plantation services, fertilizer, procurement or FMCG/logistics, with experience as Vice President (min 2 years) or General Manager (min 5 years).
  • Position based in Pekanbaru, Riau or Medan, Sumatra Utara.
  • Proven success managing large, distributed teams and multinational supply chain operations.
  • Strong business acumen with the ability to translate strategy into execution.
  • Proven track record in scaling large‑scale field or logistics operations on rural areas in Indonesia.
  • Excellent strategic planning and cross‑functional execution skills.
  • Strong leadership and stakeholder management across distributed teams.
  • Strong knowledge of supply chain, procurement processes, vendor negotiation, and regulatory requirements.
  • Willing to travel across Indonesia to oversee field operations.
  • Must speak Bahasa Indonesia and English; speaking Hokkien dialect is preferred.
• Preferred:
  • Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Experience managing digital operations, e‑commerce fulfillment, or agri‑distribution.
  • Experience in agri‑input supply chain, plantation services, or rural e‑commerce logistics.
  • Familiarity with cost‑to‑serve models, last‑mile delivery tech, and procurement systems.
  • Comfortable with data‑driven decision‑making and field travel.