Global Sourcing Strategy Lead — Direct Materials

VAT Group; Batu Kawan; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

VAT Group, a leader in vacuum solutions, seeks a Strategic Sourcing Manager (Direct Materials) to drive global sourcing strategies and category ownership. You will partner with Engineering, Operations, and Quality to ensure resilient supply bases and optimal costs for Direct Materials spanning Machining, Treatment, and E&E parts.

This role requires strategic thinking, supplier development, and cross-functional leadership in a multinational setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or above in Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering Science or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of solid strategic and operational sourcing experience, with strong working knowledge of Global Category Management.
• Proven experience in global sourcing, supplier development, strategic negotiations, cost management and supply base optimization.
• Strong analytical and risk-based problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify essential facts, translate data into insights and present results clearly and convincingly.
• Experience working within a global and complex organization, preferably in a manufacturing or technology-driven environment.
• Strong interpersonal, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with suppliers, colleagues and senior internal stakeholders.
• Self-motivated and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a global team.
• Strong execution and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and achieve results through others.
• Able to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure and demonstrate sound business judgment.
• Excellent English communication skills; German and/or Chinese language skills would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global sourcing strategies for assigned Direct Materials categories, including Machining, Treatment, E&E Parts and other strategic categories.
• Drive and sustain the Global Category Management Operating Model, ensuring supply base capability, capacity, resilience and competitiveness.
• Own and manage assigned categories and the related category team, including capacity, capability, knowledge management, supplier performance and development.
• Establish and actively manage a qualified, sustainable and regulatory-compliant supply base, applying standardized sourcing processes, supplier assessment and development methodologies.
• Drive continuous improvement of the global supply base performance across Quality, Delivery and Cost (QDC).
• Develop strategic supplier relationships and ensure supplier capabilities and investments are aligned with VAT’s long-term growth, technology and capacity requirements.
• Deliver measurable, recurring and P&L-effective cost savings of >3% annually across the assigned global third-party spend categories.
• Develop and expand a qualified Best Cost Country supply base in alignment with company objectives in Asia.
• Own category-specific objectives covering cost optimization, supply base optimization, geographic sourcing footprint and Best Cost Country Sourcing.
• Provide forward-looking strategic guidance on market trends, technology developments, capacity constraints, supply risks and sourcing opportunities.
• Drive bottom-up alignment of the Direct Materials Category Team with the company’s strategic objectives.
• Lead cross-functional and supplier stakeholders to achieve sourcing, capacity, quality, delivery and cost objectives.
• Embrace change with a continuous improvement mindset and a drive to exceed expectations.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Global category management

Supplier development

Negotiation

Cost management

Supply base optimization

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Risk management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering / Supply Chain / Procurement or related

Job description

VAT Group, a leader in vacuum solutions, seeks a Strategic Sourcing Manager (Direct Materials) to drive global sourcing strategies and category ownership. You will partner with Engineering, Operations, and Quality to ensure resilient supply bases and optimal costs for Direct Materials spanning Machining, Treatment, and E&E parts.

This role requires strategic thinking, supplier development, and cross-functional leadership in a multinational setting.