Procurement Specialist

Novartis; Selangor; On-site; MYR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis in Malaysia is seeking a Procurement Category Manager to develop and execute category strategies, drive supplier performance, and realize cost savings across regions. You will collaborate with internal stakeholders, manage supplier relationships, and ensure compliance with procurement policies in a regulated environment.

The role requires strong experience in strategic sourcing, contract management, and cross-functional collaboration within multinational settings, with fluency in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience in procurement execution, strategic sourcing, and process improvement.
• Experience in pharmaceutical/healthcare or regulated industries preferred.
• Strong category management, supplier negotiations, and contract management understanding.
• Hands-on with procurement systems; fluent in English; Mandarin considered an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Support development and execution of category strategies and sourcing plans.
• Implement sourcing initiatives to meet category goals and requirements.
• Drive cost savings, value creation, and supplier performance improvements.
• Conduct market intelligence, supplier analysis, and spend analysis.
• Manage contract lifecycle activities including execution and compliance.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and suppliers to optimize outcomes.
• Ensure adherence to procurement policies and best practices.

Skills

Category management

Supplier negotiations

Contract management

Procurement processes

Spend analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job Description Summary

To support the implementation of Category Strategy and Annual Category Plan, deliver projects and initiatives, and execute Supplier Performance and Innovation with the day-to-day activities of Category management

Job Description

Major accountabilities

• Support the development and execution of category strategies and sourcing plans aligned to business objectives.
• Implement sourcing initiatives and procurement activities to achieve category goals and operational requirements.
• Drive cost savings, value creation, and supplier performance improvement initiatives.
• Conduct market intelligence, supplier analysis, and spend analysis to support category decision-making.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate category-related risks while ensuring business continuity.
• Manage contract lifecycle activities, including contract execution, compliance, and documentation.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and suppliers to optimize procurement outcomes and service levels.
• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, processes, and best practices across category activities.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience operating within complex, multinational organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across regions, functions, and cultures.
• Minimum 2+ years of experience in procurement execution, strategic sourcing, and process improvement initiatives.
• Background in direct and/or indirect procurement, preferably within the pharmaceutical, healthcare, or regulated industries.
• Strong understanding of category management, supplier negotiations, contract management, and procurement processes.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and delivering measurable savings and value outcomes.
• Hands-on experience with Procurement systems. Fluency in English; Mandarin language skills are considered an advantage.

Why Novartis

Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients' lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

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Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Skills Desired

• Internal And External Customer Needs Analysis & Satisfaction Studies (Inactive)
• Negotiation
• Root Cause Analysis And Problem-Solving (Inactive)
• Vendor Management