Regional Procurement Manager – MBS (Marketing & Business Services)

Super Food Specialists (M) Sdn Bhd; Johor Bahru; On-site; MYR 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food procurement company in Johor Bahru is seeking a Regional Procurement Manager to lead their procurement team across APAC. The successful candidate will develop sourcing strategies, manage supplier relationships, and drive cost savings initiatives. With a minimum of 8 years in procurement and exceptional negotiation skills, this role is critical for achieving business objectives and fostering innovation. Join a dynamic team and make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8–10 years in strategic procurement roles with leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success in cost savings and transformation projects.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor regional and local category buyers.
• Develop and implement regional sourcing strategies.
• Oversee high-level negotiations with strategic suppliers.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Supplier management

Stakeholder management

Education

Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent)

Professional procurement certification (e.g., CIPS, CPM)

Job description

Regional Procurement Manager – MBS (Marketing & Business Services)

As our new Regional Procurement Manager for MBS, you will hold a critical leadership position within the Procurement team. Leading Regional and Local Category Buyers, you will address a rapidly growing spend across the full MBS portfolio in APAC. Your core goals will be to deliver expected margin targets, manage a diverse set of senior stakeholders, develop and empower your team, and mature the category to prepare for future growth.

Creative, Production, Design, Ad Tech, Market Research, POSM, Premiums & Print, Artwork, BTL, Fleet, HR Services, Consultancy, Professional Services, Facility Management, Travel, IT.

Your main challenges will be to:

• Understand complex business requirements across multiple markets;
• Manage various sub-categories with the support of Global Category Leads in IHQ (the Netherlands), Regional/Local Buyers in APAC countries;
• Develop and implement regional sourcing strategies, ensuring alignment with global objectives and stakeholder needs;
• Champion procurement transformation initiatives, including digitalisation and process optimisation;
• Use advanced pricing models and roll them out across the region;
• Drive innovation projects and leverage market intelligence for competitive advantage;
• Integrate procurement processes in newly acquired businesses across APAC;
• Conduct high‑level negotiations with strategic suppliers and oversee contract compliance;
• Lead, mentor, and empower Regional and Local Buyers to build a high‑performing team culture.

Key Responsibilities:

• Create, gain business‑wide support for, and implement category sourcing plans that quickly deliver tangible results.
• Build effective relationships with stakeholders across functions and country business units to maximise value and drive continuous improvement.
• Identify and priorities opportunities to deliver total cost of ownership savings in your categories and drive implementation plans to capture those opportunities.
• Proactively manage supplier relationships to deliver cost and cash results, drive continuous improvement, and position JDE as a customer of choice.
• Measure and benchmark performance to ensure JDE has the most competitive cost base in your category.
• Drive innovation programmes to continually search for cost‑saving opportunities, new technologies, new products, and new suppliers that contribute to the overall business strategy.
• Contribute to sourcing strategy development for global categories, working closely with the Global Procurement Team, and execute strategies in the APAC region, ensuring alignment with internal stakeholders.
• Define and implement category strategies and targets for regional categories, lead execution, and track benefits realisation.
• Establish and analyse performance metrics to evaluate supplier performance.
• Manage supplier selection processes for MBS, negotiate and contract key suppliers, and administer contracts.
• Conduct supplier risk assessments (including scanning via official tools and databases, financial assessment, etc.).
• Manage and improve key supplier performance and support quality audits to deliver financial and non‑financial benefits.
• Maintain oversight of contracts within the category and ensure compliance regarding payment terms, prices, discounts, rebates, and performance in close collaboration with the business.
• Manage transitions to key suppliers and maintain a portfolio of strategic agreements to mitigate risk in procuring MBS (pricing, supply, quality, etc.).
• Oversee high‑level risk management activities for respective category areas.
• Contribute to cost price calculations based on market and product knowledge.
• Understand the physical manufacturing process, including visiting plants to ensure guidelines are followed, delivering optimal goods and services to production plants.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and procedures and manage adherence to the Combined Business Model.

Required Experience & Competencies:

• Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred; professional procurement certification (e.g., CIPS, CPM) highly desirable.
• Minimum 8–10 years in strategic procurement roles, with at least 5 years in a leadership capacity within multinational organisations (preferably FMCG or similar industries).
• Demonstrated success in delivering significant cost savings, leading transformation projects, and managing complex stakeholder environments.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and influencing skills; strong analytical and strategic thinking; ability to thrive in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments.
• Proven ability to lead and develop diverse teams across multiple geographies.
• Strategic vision, entrepreneurship, accountability, operational excellence, and collaborative mindset.