Senior Manager - Indirect Procurement

Chery Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Chery Malaysia is seeking a senior leader to head the Indirect Procurement function, driving strategic sourcing, process optimization, and supplier performance across the organization. You will guide a procurement team to deliver cost-effective purchasing practices and ensure policy compliance to support business operations.

The role emphasizes end-to-end procurement lifecycle mastery, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement initiatives to generate value for the company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Procurement, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10 years of procurement or purchasing experience.
• 5 years of experience in a managerial or people management role.
• Strong knowledge of procurement strategies, sourcing, supplier management, contract management, and purchasing best practices.
• Proven experience in leading procurement teams and driving process improvements.
• Excellent negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Able to think logically, make sound decisions, and work effectively under pressure.
• Highly responsible, self-motivated, and committed to delivering results.
• Proficiency in Mandarin is an added advantage to effectively communicate with Chinese-speaking suppliers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Indirect Procurement team to achieve departmental objectives and operational excellence.
• Establish, monitor, and drive procurement KPIs to improve team productivity, service quality, and purchasing efficiency.
• Allocate resources and provide guidance to ensure timely execution of procurement activities.
• Oversee daily purchasing activities to ensure timely procurement of goods and services that meet business requirements.
• Ensure procurement processes are executed efficiently while maintaining quality, cost, and delivery expectations.
• Resolve procurement-related issues and remove operational bottlenecks to support uninterrupted business operations.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve procurement policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Ensure full compliance with the end-to-end procurement process, internal controls, and company governance requirements.
• Promote procurement process standardization and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies to achieve competitive pricing and long-term cost optimization.
• Conduct supplier negotiations to secure favorable commercial terms while maintaining quality and service standards.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and support procurement initiatives that improve overall business value.
• Develop and maintain a healthy and competitive supplier pool across all indirect procurement categories.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, performance, and risk to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply base.
• Conduct regular supplier performance reviews and implement improvement plans where necessary.
• Lead contract negotiations, reviews, and renewals to ensure commercial and legal compliance.
• Ensure procurement contracts are properly managed throughout their lifecycle and aligned with company policies.
• Monitor supplier contractual obligations and address any contractual issues proactively.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to understand procurement requirements and provide strategic purchasing support.
• Work closely with users and the procurement team to resolve purchasing challenges and ensure smooth procurement operations.
• Support business units by providing procurement expertise and recommendations for sourcing decisions.

Skills

Procurement strategy

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Procurement, Engineering, or a related field

Job description

Responsible for leading the Indirect Procurement function by driving strategic sourcing initiatives, optimizing procurement processes, managing supplier performance, and ensuring cost-effective purchasing practices. This role oversees the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, ensures policy compliance, and leads the procurement team to support business operations through efficient, timely, and value-driven procurement activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Indirect Procurement team to achieve departmental objectives and operational excellence.
• Establish, monitor, and drive procurement KPIs to improve team productivity, service quality, and purchasing efficiency.
• Allocate resources and provide guidance to ensure timely execution of procurement activities.

2. Procurement Operations

• Oversee daily purchasing activities to ensure timely procurement of goods and services that meet business requirements.
• Ensure procurement processes are executed efficiently while maintaining quality, cost, and delivery expectations.
• Resolve procurement-related issues and remove operational bottlenecks to support uninterrupted business operations.

3. Procurement Governance & Process Compliance

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve procurement policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Ensure full compliance with the end-to-end procurement process, internal controls, and company governance requirements.
• Promote procurement process standardization and continuous improvement initiatives.

4. Strategic Sourcing & Cost Management

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies to achieve competitive pricing and long-term cost optimization.
• Conduct supplier negotiations to secure favorable commercial terms while maintaining quality and service standards.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and support procurement initiatives that improve overall business value.
• Develop and maintain a healthy and competitive supplier pool across all indirect procurement categories.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, performance, and risk to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply base.
• Conduct regular supplier performance reviews and implement improvement plans where necessary.

6. Contract Management

• Lead contract negotiations, reviews, and renewals to ensure commercial and legal compliance.
• Ensure procurement contracts are properly managed throughout their lifecycle and aligned with company policies.
• Monitor supplier contractual obligations and address any contractual issues proactively.

7. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with internal stakeholders to understand procurement requirements and provide strategic purchasing support.
• Work closely with users and the procurement team to resolve purchasing challenges and ensure smooth procurement operations.
• Support business units by providing procurement expertise and recommendations for sourcing decisions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Procurement, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of procurement or purchasing experience, preferably within the automotive or manufacturing industry.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a managerial or people management role.
• Strong knowledge of procurement strategies, sourcing, supplier management, contract management, and purchasing best practices.
• Proven experience in leading procurement teams and driving process improvements.
• Excellent negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Able to think logically, make sound decisions, and work effectively under pressure.
• Highly responsible, self-motivated, and committed to delivering results.
• Proficiency in Mandarin is an added advantage to effectively communicate with Chinese-speaking suppliers and stakeholders.