Senior Sourcing Specialist

Lidl & Kaufland Asia; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Lidl & Kaufland Asia in Bengaluru seeks a senior sourcing lead to build strategic partnerships with suppliers across the region. You will drive supplier onboarding, negotiate terms and ensure sustainable business growth aligned with the sourcing roadmap.

You will coordinate with HQ teams in Asia, monitor supplier performance, and develop data-driven cost analyses. A strong network in the supplier community and fluency in English and local language are essential.

Qualifications

• University Degree or equivalent is required.
• 5+ years of relevant product/sourcing experience is desirable.
• Strong knowledge and network within supplier community and beyond.
• Good understanding of sustainability and compliance programs.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills with internal & external parties.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of contact for an assigned portfolio of suppliers.
• Identify onboard and develop new manufacturing partners.
• Enhance vendor relationships within the supplier network.
• Conduct price quotations and cost/price analyses.
• Assess supplier capacity and performance for reliable delivery and quality.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop optimal sourcing solutions.
• Support Asian HQ teams by identifying relevant products from local partners.
• Coordinate category trips and pre-trip itineraries to achieve objectives.
• Provide daily operations support to Asian HQ teams as needed.
• Maintain and update supplier performance data and contribute to reports.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation skills

Project management

Analytical skills

Self-starter

English fluency

Local language proficiency

Networking in supplier community

Understanding of European retail space

Sustainability knowledge

Education

University degree or equivalent

Job description

The main objective of the position is to lead the sourcing division by establishing strong partnerships with vendors in the country and beyond and set them up for sustainable business growth. This entails strengthening partnerships with existing vendors and sourcing new manufacturers in alignment with divisional sourcing strategy.

What you'll do

The holder of the position is mainly responsible for the following areas in coordination with his / her superior:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for an assigned portfolio of suppliers, fostering long-term, strategic partnerships
• Identify, onboard and develop new manufacturing partners based on aligned strategic sourcing roadmap
• Enhance vendor relationships and further strengthen partnerships within existing supplier network
• Demonstrate product knowledge, strong understanding of pricing down to a component / material level and market knowledge/industry know-how. Collect relevant data to formulate sourcing proposals.
• Drive the initial collection of supplier information, conduct price quotations, and perform comprehensive cost/price analysis and benchmarking against market standards
• Regularly assess supplier production capacity, capabilities, and performance to ensure reliable delivery and adherence to quality standards'
• Collaborate cross-functionally with various internal stakeholders and suppliers to understand business needs and priorities and develop optimal solutions to support
• Support relevant commercial HQ teams in Asia through identification of relevant products and innovation from local manufacturing partners
• Support category trips, including pre-trip itinerary set up and finalization, to ensure the trip objectives are fully achieved
• Supports the Asian HQ teams with daily operations as needed
• Maintains and updates performance data for suppliers on a regular basis. Contributes to relevant business reports and recaps to better understand and manage sourcing activities
• Coach and develop the subordinates and teams (if applicable)
• Ensure consistent exchange and alignment with different local offices & Vendor Management teams in terms of market updates and business opportunities'
• Live our values and embrace change

What you'll need

• University Degree or equivalent
• Ideally above 5 years relevant product experience in a reputed company, ideally in a buying office or export factory
• Must have good knowledge and network within supplier's community and beyond
• Understanding of European retail space is beneficial
• Knowledge on compliance and sustainability programs
• Good project management and analytical skills
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills with internal & external parties
• Self-starter and resourceful in getting things done in a timely manner
• Excellent written and spoken English & local language