Strategic Procurement & Materials Leader

Abbott; Pokeno; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbott, a global healthcare leader, seeks a Production Manager in New Zealand's Waikato region to lead strategic indirect procurement and direct materials planning. You will drive cost savings, supplier performance, and inventory health while partnering with Operations, Engineering, Finance, and Supply Chain.

The role requires a minimum of 5 years in supply chain leadership, a Bachelor's degree, and a proven track record in manufacturing procurement and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of supply chain and procurement leadership experience.
• Procurement experience in manufacturing environments preferred.
• Materials Planning & Inventory Management – Expertise in demand planning, inventory optimization, supply continuity, and manufacturing support.
• Strategic Sourcing & Procurement – Ability to develop sourcing strategies, negotiate contracts, manage spend, deliver cost savings, and build strategic supplier partnerships.
• Analytical & Financial Acumen – Uses data, KPIs, and financial insights to support decision‑making, cost management, and continuous improvement.
• Stakeholder Management & Influencing – Collaborates effectively across functions and influences outcomes to meet business objectives.
• Continuous Improvement & Change Management – Identifies opportunities to improve processes, systems, and supply chain performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Materials Planning and Procurement team, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer-focused service.
• Lead the planning and inventory management of direct materials, ensuring uninterrupted supply to manufacturing operations while balancing replenishment and safety stock strategies, and minimizing distressed inventory.
• Partner closely with Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Finance, and Supply Chain stakeholders to understand business requirements and translate them into effective sourcing strategies for locally managed indirect materials and services.
• Deliver value through competitive sourcing, cost optimization, supplier innovation, and risk mitigation.
• Build, develop, and maintain a high-performing network of suppliers, leading supplier selection, negotiations, contract management, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with Category Management teams to leverage data-driven insights and market intelligence, identifying opportunities to improve supplier performance, strengthen supply continuity, and reduce total cost of ownership.
• Monitor supplier capability, market trends, and commercial risks to proactively address supply challenges and ensure commitments related to quality, delivery, service, and cost are consistently achieved.
• Establish and maintain site level procurement policies, standards, and governance processes that ensure sourcing decisions align with business, quality, compliance, and operational requirements.
• Manage departmental budgets and performance metrics, driving results across inventory accuracy, days on hand, safety stock optimization, supplier delivery performance, distressed inventory reduction, and successful new product introductions.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Analytical & financial acumen

Continuous improvement & change

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Job description

Abbott, a global healthcare leader, seeks a Production Manager in New Zealand's Waikato region to lead strategic indirect procurement and direct materials planning. You will drive cost savings, supplier performance, and inventory health while partnering with Operations, Engineering, Finance, and Supply Chain.

The role requires a minimum of 5 years in supply chain leadership, a Bachelor's degree, and a proven track record in manufacturing procurement and continuous improvement.