Senior Buyer

Celestica Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd; Kulai; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Celestica Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd in Senai, Johor is seeking a Senior Buyer to lead procurement and material planning for assigned customer accounts and high-complexity programs within a contract manufacturing environment.

The role focuses on end-to-end material strategy, supplier management, SAP data integrity, CTB risk mitigation, and collaboration with CFT, Master Planning, Engineering, and Finance to maintain lean inventory and on-time production.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor’s in Business or Supply Chain related field.
• 6–10 years procurement in Contract Manufacturing or high-tech.
• Strong SAP/MRP knowledge preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan and procure raw materials and components.
• Perform CTB analysis against production need-by dates.
• Manage supplier relationships and vendor performance.
• Maintain SAP master data and ensure accurate MRP.
• Collaborate with CFT, Master Planning, Engineering, and Finance.

Skills

CTB knowledge

Negotiation

Escalation management

Multitasking

Analytical skills

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business

Diploma in Supply Chain Management

Tools

SAP

Job description

The Senior Buyer serves as a lead procurement and material planning specialist for assigned customer accounts and manufacturing programs in a Contract Manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for end-to-end material strategy, procurement execution, vendor management, and inventory optimization to support fast-paced production schedules. Working closely with the Customer Focus Team (CFT), Master Planning, Engineering, and Finance, the Senior Buyer mitigates Clear-to-Build (CTB) risks, resolves complex supply chain disruptions, ensures SAP data integrity, and manages high-impact vendor relationships.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Plan and procure raw materials, electronic components, and custom sub-assemblies to satisfy manufacturing demand for assigned customer accounts and high-complexity programs.

Perform routine Clear-to-Build (CTB) analysis against production need-by dates; proactively identify, **escalate**, and resolve critical component shortages.

Balance material availability against floor capacity, cycle times, order urgency, and vendor lead times to ensure continuous production readiness while maintaining lean inventory targets.

Lead quick-turn RFQ (Request for Quote) evaluations and lead-time (LT) assessments to solve CTB shortages and accommodate sudden customer demand shifts.

Issue, review, and maintain Purchase Orders (POs) in SAP based on active MRP signals and contractual terms.

Execute order mitigation strategies (expediting, pushing out, or canceling POs) in alignment with fluctuating master production schedules.

Monitor vendor lead times and delivery compliance, addressing constraints related to Supplier Corrective Actions, SRA (Supplier Return Authorization), and FAI (First Article Inspection) approvals.

Maintain strict accuracy and reliability of purchasing master data in SAP to ensure dependable MRP generation.

Manage direct communication with suppliers to address material shortages, lead-time extensions, component allocations, and operational escalations.

Assist Finance and Purchasing management with the setup and onboarding of new supplier accounts.

Process Cash-in-Advance (CIA) requests and resolve receiving holds, pricing mismatches, and invoice referrals with Accounts Payable (A/P).

Partner with Quality and Logistics to execute RTV (Return-to-Vendor) actions for defective goods, ensuring prompt credit issuance and vendor accountability.

Act as the lead procurement representative on the Customer Focus Team (CFT), delivering daily and weekly material status reports to Planning and Program Management.

Lead purchasing updates during customer-facing meetings, presenting clear recovery plans for line-down risks and engineering changes.

Collaborate with local and global logistics teams to optimize freight modes and minimize premium transportation costs.

Advise internal leadership and CFT stakeholders on broader market trends, electronic component lead times, and potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Facilitate seamless material and supply line management during site-to-site product transfers (internal or external).

Support customer audits, special sourcing initiatives, and high-priority purchasing assignments.

Evaluate Engineering Change Orders (ECO) and Engineering Changes (EC) to assess procurement lead times, scrap exposure, and cost impacts prior to implementation.

Identify and report Bill of Materials (BOM) errors or routing issues to the Engineering Change team for immediate resolution.

Calculate and propose material cost adjustments associated with new engineering requirements or BOM revisions.

Qualifications & Competencies

Work Location: Senai, Johor.

Position Summary

The Senior Buyer serves as a lead procurement and material planning specialist for assigned customer accounts and manufacturing programs in a Contract Manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for end-to-end material strategy, procurement execution, vendor management, and inventory optimization to support fast-paced production schedules. Working closely with the Customer Focus Team (CFT), Master Planning, Engineering, and Finance, the Senior Buyer mitigates Clear-to-Build (CTB) risks, resolves complex supply chain disruptions, ensures SAP data integrity, and manages high-impact vendor relationships.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Plan and procure raw materials, electronic components, and custom sub-assemblies to satisfy manufacturing demand for assigned customer accounts and high-complexity programs.

• Perform routine Clear-to-Build (CTB) analysis against production need-by dates; proactively identify, **escalate**, and resolve critical component shortages.

• Balance material availability against floor capacity, cycle times, order urgency, and vendor lead times to ensure continuous production readiness while maintaining lean inventory targets.

• Lead quick-turn RFQ (Request for Quote) evaluations and lead-time (LT) assessments to solve CTB shortages and accommodate sudden customer demand shifts.

• Issue, review, and maintain Purchase Orders (POs) in SAP based on active MRP signals and contractual terms.

• Execute order mitigation strategies (expediting, pushing out, or canceling POs) in alignment with fluctuating master production schedules.

• Monitor vendor lead times and delivery compliance, addressing constraints related to Supplier Corrective Actions, SRA (Supplier Return Authorization), and FAI (First Article Inspection) approvals.

• Maintain strict accuracy and reliability of purchasing master data in SAP to ensure dependable MRP generation.

• Manage direct communication with suppliers to address material shortages, lead-time extensions, component allocations, and operational escalations.

• Assist Finance and Purchasing management with the setup and onboarding of new supplier accounts.

• Process Cash-in-Advance (CIA) requests and resolve receiving holds, pricing mismatches, and invoice referrals with Accounts Payable (A/P).

• Partner with Quality and Logistics to execute RTV (Return-to-Vendor) actions for defective goods, ensuring prompt credit issuance and vendor accountability.

• Act as the lead procurement representative on the Customer Focus Team (CFT), delivering daily and weekly material status reports to Planning and Program Management.

• Lead purchasing updates during customer-facing meetings, presenting clear recovery plans for line-down risks and engineering changes.

• Collaborate with local and global logistics teams to optimize freight modes and minimize premium transportation costs.

• Advise internal leadership and CFT stakeholders on broader market trends, electronic component lead times, and potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

• Facilitate seamless material and supply line management during site-to-site product transfers (internal or external).

• Support customer audits, special sourcing initiatives, and high-priority purchasing assignments.

• Evaluate Engineering Change Orders (ECO) and Engineering Changes (EC) to assess procurement lead times, scrap exposure, and cost impacts prior to implementation.

• Identify and report Bill of Materials (BOM) errors or routing issues to the Engineering Change team for immediate resolution.

• Calculate and propose material cost adjustments associated with new engineering requirements or BOM revisions.

Qualifications & Competencies

Education & Experience

• Education: Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Commerce, or a related discipline.

• Experience: 6 to 10 years of procurement, buying, or supply chain experience within a Contract Manufacturing or high-tech manufacturing environment.

Technical Competencies

• Deep expertise in Contract Manufacturing workflows, MRP/ERP systems (SAP strongly preferred), and complex BOM structures.

• Proven track record managing CTB reviews, shortage mitigation, and inventory control.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (advanced Excel capabilities including pivot tables, dynamic formulas, and data analysis).

Soft Skills & Professional Attributes

• Advanced negotiation, escalation management, and supplier relationship management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to multitask and deliver under tight manufacturing timelines.

• Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Consumer Electronics Manufacturing 1,001-5,000 employees

Headquartered in Toronto, Celestica Inc. is a global leader in high-reliability design, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions. We enable major brands to launch complex products in markets like Aerospace, Defense, HealthTech, and Industrial, driving a smarter, sustainable future.

In 2023, Celestica expanded its footprint with a new Design Centre in Penang, Malaysia. This strategic hub collaborates with our global engineering teams to develop cutting-edge Hardware Platform Solutions. The Penang team focuses on next-gen Networking, Storage, and Server technologies to power Cloud, AI, Machine Learning, Edge, and 5G deployments worldwide.

Headquartered in Toronto, Celestica Inc. is a global leader in high-reliability design, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions. We enable major brands to launch complex products in markets like Aerospace, Defense, HealthTech, and Industrial, driving a smarter, sustainable future.

In 2023, Celestica expanded its footprint with a new Design Centre in Penang, Malaysia. This strategic hub collaborates with our global engineering teams to develop cutting-edge Hardware Platform Solutions. The Penang team focuses on next-gen Networking, Storage, and Server technologies to power Cloud, AI, Machine Learning, Edge, and 5G deployments worldwide.

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