Category Manager – Marketing & Business Services

Asahi Holdings Southeast Asia Sdn Bhd; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A multinational procurement firm in Kuala Lumpur is seeking a Procurement Category Manager to lead sourcing and category management for Marketing & Business Services. The successful candidate will have over 7 years of experience, including at least 4 years in procurement, and demonstrate strong negotiation and project management skills. Responsibilities include developing regional strategies and managing supplier relationships. Interested candidates should apply through LinkedIn or send their resumes to [e-mail].

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience, with at least 4 years in Marketing & Business Services Procurement.
• International experience in a multinational environment.
• Strong project management and financial analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Implement Procurement purpose, vision, strategies, and governance.
• Lead and develop the category team.
• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships for performance and quality assurance.
• Develop and execute category strategies and sourcing plans.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Supplier relationship management

Project management

Financial analysis

Organizational skills

MS Office proficiency

Education

University degree in Business

Master's degree

Tools

Procurement platforms

Job description

Role Overview

We are looking for a passionate and results-oriented Procurement Category Manager to lead sourcing and category management for Marketing & Business Services across multiple Southeast Asian markets. This role will cover a diverse range of categories, including media, creative and digital agencies, event management, market research, professional services, facilities management, HR services, and other business support services.

You will be responsible for developing and executing regional category strategies, managing supplier negotiations, overseeing contracts, and identifying opportunities for cost optimization and value creation without compromising quality or service delivery. You will collaborate closely with local market teams, as well as regional and global procurement and business stakeholders, to ensure effective implementation of sourcing strategies, policy compliance, and supplier performance management.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in marketing and business services procurement, strong commercial and negotiation skills, and the ability to work across multiple markets and stakeholder groups in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. If you excel at building trusted supplier and stakeholder relationships, driving strategic procurement initiatives, and delivering measurable business impact, this is the role for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement Procurement purpose, vision, strategies, and governance
• Lead and develop the category team (where applicable)
• Promote a “one team” spirit and share best practices across functions
• Ensure compliance with governance, policies, processes, and legislation
• Safeguard company assets through effective controls
• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships (performance, innovation, quality assurance)
• Develop and execute category strategies and sourcing plans to achieve objectives and KPIs
• Manage category budgets, track value drivers, and monitor performance
• Assess and mitigate risks such as price volatility, supplier stability, and service availability
• Strengthen stakeholder relationships across procurement activities
• Contribute to operational excellence and continuous improvement

Qualification Criteria

• University degree in Business or related field (Master’s preferred)
• Proficiency in English
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience, with at least 4 years in Marketing & Business Services Procurement
• International experience in a multinational environment
• Strong organizational, project management, and financial analysis skills
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office
• Experience using procurement platforms

Interested candidates are invited to apply through LinkedIn or send their updated resumes to [e-mail]. Thank you.