Indirect Procurement Category Manager, APAC

Straumann Group; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

The Straumann Group in Kuala Lumpur is seeking a Category Manager to lead indirect procurement across APAC, including IT, Marketing, Professional Services, Facilities and Travel. You will develop sourcing strategies, negotiate with suppliers, manage stakeholder expectations and drive cost efficiency.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, you will work with regional teams to align policies, monitor supplier performance, and ensure compliance while improving processes and achieving KPI targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 10+ years of relevant experience in sourcing/procurement.
• Strong knowledge of supplier qualification systems and vendor performance management.
• Proven project management and problem-solving skills.
• Business proficiency in English (spoken and written).
• Proficiency in Thai/Korean/Japanese/Chinese - Mandarin is an advantage
• Experience with MS Office Suite, especially Power BI, Excel and PowerPoint, plus database management skills.
• Knowledge of e-Procurement systems, SAP & GEP-Smart is an advantage

Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing Management: Identify indirect sourcing opportunities.
• Strategic Sourcing Management: Align global & regional procurement policies and projects with regional execution.
• Strategic Sourcing Management: Standardize and optimize procurement processes and workflows.
• Strategic Sourcing Management: Establish and enhance supplier qualification procedures.
• Strategic Sourcing Management: Manage supplier performance and drive continuous improvement.
• Strategic Sourcing Management: Develop and implement sourcing strategies to support business objectives.
• Strategic Sourcing Management: Ensure KPI achievement and results-driven procurement execution such as total cost-saving, compliance rate, process efficiency, spend under management, supplier performance management and other.
• Project Management & Initiatives: Lead and support sourcing and procurement-related projects.
• Project Management & Initiatives: Drive initiatives to enhance procurement performance and efficiency.
• Project Management & Initiatives: Manage ad hoc projects as assigned by supervisor.
• Operational Procurement: Support and handle day-to-day procurement operations such as tactical sourcing requests
• Operational Procurement: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance procurement and business performance.
• Operational Procurement: Maintain and strengthen supplier relationships.
• Operational Procurement: Continuously improve compliance, service quality, and cost efficiency.
• Other Responsibilities: Support APAC and global procurement initiatives as required.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Power BI

Excel

PowerPoint

Database management

SAP

GEP-Smart

Job description

Job Purpose

Based in Kuala Lumpur, this APAC-focused role develops and executes sourcing strategies and procurement operations for indirect categories (e.g., IT, Marketing, Professional Services, Facilities, Travel).

The Category Manager ensures cost efficiency, supplier performance, risk management, and compliance while collaborating with stakeholders, leading negotiations, and driving process improvements. Occasional involvement in China-related topics/projects may be required.

Job Purpose

Based in Kuala Lumpur, this APAC-focused role develops and executes sourcing strategies and procurement operations for indirect categories (e.g., IT, Marketing, Professional Services, Facilities, Travel).

The Category Manager ensures cost efficiency, supplier performance, risk management, and compliance while collaborating with stakeholders, leading negotiations, and driving process improvements. Occasional involvement in China-related topics/projects may be required.

Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing Management

• Identify indirect sourcing opportunities.
• Align global & regional procurement policies and projects with regional execution.
• Standardize and optimize procurement processes and workflows.
• Establish and enhance supplier qualification procedures.
• Manage supplier performance and drive continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement sourcing strategies to support business objectives.
• Ensure KPI achievement and results-driven procurement execution such as total cost‑saving, compliance rate, process efficiency, spend under management, supplier performance management and other.

Project Management & Initiatives

• Lead and support sourcing and procurement‑related projects.
• Drive initiatives to enhance procurement performance and efficiency.
• Manage ad hoc projects as assigned by supervisor.

Operational Procurement

• Support and handle the day‑to‑day procurement operations such as tactical sourcing requests
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to enhance procurement and business performance.
• Maintain and strengthen supplier relationships.
• Continuously improve compliance, service quality, and cost efficiency.

Other Responsibilities

Support APAC and global procurement initiatives as required.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree with 10+ years of relevant experience in sourcing/procurement.
• Strong knowledge of supplier qualification systems and vendor performance management.
• Proven project management and problem‑solving skills.
• Business proficiency in English level (spoken and written).
• Proficiency in Thai/Korean/Japanese/Chinese - Mandarin is an advantage
• Experience of Ms. Office Suite particularly Power BI, Excel and PowerPoint, along with database management skills.
• Knowledge of e‑Procurement system, SAP & GEP‑Smart is an advantage

Personal Attributes

• Open mind, learning attitude, transparent behavior, positive, ethical, diligent, and professionally responsible.
• Resilient under pressure especially on tight deadlines with strong prioritization skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proactive and solution‑oriented with a "can-do" mindset.
• Growth mindset‑oriented and continuously seeks improvement.
• Strong influencing skills with the ability to collaborate across functions.
• Willingness to travel (approximately 10%)

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