Head, Category Management

Johor Plantations Group Berhad; Johor Bahru; On-site; MYR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agribusiness company in Johor Bahru is seeking an experienced procurement professional. The role requires developing strategic sourcing strategies and managing supplier relationships. Candidates must have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in relevant fields, with at least 9 years in procurement, preferably in Strategic Sourcing or Category Management. Strong skills in negotiation, data analysis, and communication are essential. This position is critical for cost-saving initiatives and effective procurement decision-making.

Qualifications

• 9 years of procurement experience, preferably in Strategic Sourcing or Category Management.
• Excellent English writing and speaking skills.
• Ability to analyze market trends and industry data.

Responsibilities

• Develop sourcing strategies and deliver value improvements in Procurement.
• Conduct market research and analyze trends.
• Manage supplier relationships and contract performance.
• Perform procurement reporting and identify cost-saving opportunities.

Skills

Experience in Strategic Sourcing

Data analysis

Negotiation

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in relevant fields

Tools

e-Procurement systems (SAP, Oracle, Ariba)

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Finance, Business Management or any Engineering (preferably) discipline.
• Experience of at least nine (9) years in procurement – preferably in Strategic Sourcing or Category Management.
• Experience in plantation and agribusiness operational requirements will be an added advantage
• Experience in any e-Procurement system (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Ariba, etc.) and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) for data analysis, reporting, and presentations.
• Procurement paper preparation and deliberation.
• Aptitude in decision‑making and working with numbers.
• Strong ability to analyze market trends, price movements, and industry data to make informed procurement decisions.
• Skilled in managing procurement budgets, identifying cost‑saving opportunities, and developing cost‑effective strategies.
• Strong communication and presentation skills to articulate sustainability goals and initiatives.
• Excellent language proficiency in English (writing and speaking).
• Excellent ability to negotiate with suppliers and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and develop a high‑performing team.

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

• Responsible for developing Direct / Indirect sourcing or category strategies, framework agreements, and delivering value improvements in Procurement.
• Conduct research and analyze market trends and establish vendors profiling.
• Determine Direct / Indirect Categories' scopes, baselines and management approaches.
• Perform spend analysis for each established Direct / Indirect categories for company’s spend visibility.
• Own Strategic Suppliers relationship and Strategic Contracts performance.
• Accountable for successful Direct / Indirect categories sourcing activities, i.e. RFQ and Tender events meeting intended objectives.
• Responsible for the Finalization of Contract for Direct / Indirect Categories.
• Proactively engage stakeholders for strategic procurement approach - conversion of non‑strategic RFQ to long‑term contract based on business nature.
• Perform procurement reporting and analysis of categories to identify potential improvement opportunities and cost‑saving opportunities.
• Ensure all procurement activities are conducted in accordance with applicable company procedures and policies.
• Provide insights of the overall category under management market / industry to determine / forecast price trends / movements for effective procurement decision making.
• Perform continuous improvement of each category, to ensure its relevance, based on criticality of the category in keeping with the overall corporate vision and cost competitiveness.