Assistant Manager (Research Administration Support), iCORE

A*STAR Research Entities (A*STAR); Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A*STAR Research Entities (A*STAR) is seeking a proactive procurement specialist to support demand aggregation and sourcing for laboratory consumables, equipment and services, driving cost efficiency and supply continuity for research programs. You will collaborate with research users and Central Procurement to consolidate needs and establish value-driven contracts.

Responsibilities include planning end-to-end procurement, managing the contract lifecycle, conducting market research and supplier

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor's in Supply Chain or related field, or relevant procurement experience.

Responsibilities

• Support demand aggregation and sourcing for lab consumables, equipment and services.
• Partner with researchers, Central Procurement and vendors to consolidate needs and negotiate where necessary.
• Plan and coordinate end-to-end procurement to ensure timely fulfilment and compliance.
• Manage contract lifecycle including preparation, execution, administration, renewals and close-out.
• Conduct market research, supplier evaluations and negotiations for cost-effective terms.
• Monitor supplier performance, procurement pipelines and renewal schedules.
• Analyze spend, trends and risks to identify cost optimizations and process improvements.
• Maintain procurement records, dashboards and management reports.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and governance.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to support continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Negotiation

Contract management

Procurement strategy

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Education

Supply chain degree

Tools

SAP/Ariba

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of demand aggregation and sourcing strategies for laboratory consumables, equipment and services to achieve cost efficiency, supply continuity, and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Partner with research users, Central Procurement and vendors to consolidate procurement requirements, identify demand aggregation opportunities, perform negotiations where necessary and establish contracts that deliver value across the organisation.
• Plan and coordinate the end-to-end procurement process for demand-aggregated laboratory consumables, ensuring timely fulfilment of research requirements in compliance with organisational and Government procurement policies.
• Manage the end-to-end contract lifecycle for assigned contracts, including contract preparation, execution, administration, performance monitoring, variation management, renewals, and contract close-out.
• Conduct market research, supplier evaluations, and commercial negotiations to secure competitive pricing, favourable contract terms, and reliable supply arrangements.
• Monitor supplier performance, contract utilisation, procurement pipelines, and contract renewal schedules to ensure uninterrupted supply and effective contract governance.
• Analyse procurement spend, demand trends, supplier performance, and operational risks to identify opportunities for cost optimisation, process improvements, and risk mitigation.
• Maintain accurate procurement and contract records, including contract repositories, dashboards, and management reports, and provide regular updates on procurement activities and key performance indicators.
• Identify, recommend, and implement process improvements to enhance procurement efficiency, contract management practices, and demand aggregation initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and cross-functional teams to support continuous improvement initiatives and achieve procurement and operational objectives.

Job Requirements

• Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Analytics, or a related field; or relevant work experience in Procurement or Contract Management.
• Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook).
• Experience with usage of SAP/Ariba systems would be advantageous.
• Self-starter with a strong sense of urgency and initiative.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Previous experience with work in a laboratory setting would be advantageous.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to new challenges.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively across teams.
• Mature and logical thinking, dependable, and capable of working with minimal supervision.
• Candidates with no industry experience may also apply