Manager, Sourcing

YSQ International; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

YSQ International is seeking a seasoned Sourcing & Category Management leader to drive sourcing strategies across direct, indirect, services and capex categories. You will lead a team of assistants and executives, set KPIs, and manage supplier evaluations to ensure timely onboarding with Quality, R&D and Finance.

The role emphasizes cost savings, supplier development and risk mitigation while aligning with NPI/NPD timelines and regulatory requirements. Regional travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Degree in Supply Chain Management or related
• Certification in procurement (CIPS/CPSM) is an advantage
• Experience in procurement / strategic sourcing leadership

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category sourcing strategies for direct/indirect categories.
• Lead and coach the sourcing team; set objectives and review performance.
• Monitor KPIs like supplier registrations, RFQs, cost savings; report to Manager.
• Own supplier evaluation and onboarding with Quality, R&D and Finance.

Skills

Leadership

Category management

Supplier development

Cost savings

Negotiation

ERP/Navision

MS Excel

Education

Degree in Supply Chain Management

CIPS/CPSM certification

Tools

Navision ERP

MS Excel

Job description

The incumbent shall report to the Manager, and is accountable for the strategy, people and results of the Sourcing team. The incumbent owns the sourcing strategy for assigned categories (direct materials including chemicals and Non-Tobacco Materials (NTM), indirect materials, services and capex), leads and develops the sourcing team, and ensures new suppliers are identified, evaluated and onboarded on time to support production, New Product Introduction (NPI) and cost targets for the group of businesses.

Success in this role means: a stable, competitive and compliant supply base; measurable cost savings and risk reduction delivered against annual targets; a sourcing team that performs to clear KPIs; and a vendor lifecycle process (sourcing, evaluation, registration and development) that is consistently applied across entities through the Vendor Management System (VMS). The role bridges the operational sourcing work led by Assistant Managers and the department strategy set by the Manager.

Part B:Responsibilities and Duties

• Develop and execute category sourcing strategies for assigned direct, indirect, services and capex categories, aligned to the Manager’s departmental strategy and business plans.
• Lead, coach and develop the sourcing team (Assistant Managers / Executives); set individual objectives, allocate category portfolios and conduct performance reviews.
• Set and monitor team KPIs, including new suppliers identified, RFQs/quotations obtained from new suppliers, vendor registrations, sourcing lead time and cost savings; report results and corrective actions to the Manager.
• Own the supplier selection and evaluation process: review and approve sourcing evaluations of new vendors (minimum 70% score) before onboarding, and ensure sample approval and registration are completed with Quality, R&D and Finance.
• Drive supplier development along the YSQ vendor status ladder (Registered, AVL, FAVL, Preferred) together with Procurement and other departments, including joint evaluations and site visits.
• Lead complex and high-value negotiations and contracts with key suppliers to achieve long-term benefit in quality, cost, delivery, payment terms, rebates and vendor-managed inventory.
• Lead sourcing of chemicals and Non-Tobacco Materials (NTM), such as packaging, paper, filter materials, adhesives, inks and other process chemicals; qualify suppliers on specification, quality consistency and capacity together with R&D and Quality.
• Ensure chemical and NTM suppliers meet safety and regulatory requirements, including Safety Data Sheets (SDS), Certificates of Analysis (COA), product compliance declarations, dangerous goods handling and shelf-life controls.
• Drive Materials Project Management for New Product Introduction (NPI) / New Product Development (NPD), ensuring materials and components are sourced, qualified and available to meet launch timelines.
• Identify supply risks (single source, geographic, financial, regulatory) and implement mitigation plans such as dual/alternate sourcing, regional supplier development and contingency stock.
• Champion the use of the Vendor Management System (VMS): ensure sourcing requests, quotations, vendor evaluations and vendor records are complete, accurate and up to date, and drive process improvements with IT, Procurement and Finance.
• Conduct market intelligence and cost analysis (should-cost, price trends, total cost of ownership) to support sourcing decisions and budgeting.
• Build effective working relationships with Planning, Procurement, R&D/R&I, Quality, Operations and Finance so that strategic and operational needs are fully understood and incorporated.
• Prepare regular reports for Management and committees on sourcing status, savings, supplier performance and compliance.
• Ensure full compliance with company procurement policies, Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC) and fraud prevention requirements, and applicable regulations; uphold corporate governance and transparency.
• Identify training needs within the team and drive continuous improvement and best practice in sourcing across the group.
• Act as the principal point of contact with external suppliers for formal communications during the sourcing process.
• Any other ad-hoc projects assigned by the Manager.

Part C:Qualifications & Requirements (Education, Experience, Skills, Knowledge, Etc)

• Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering or a related discipline. Professional certification (e.g. CIPS, CPSM) is an advantage.
• At least 5-7 years of experience in procurement / strategic sourcing, including a minimum of 2-3 years leading a sourcing or category management team.
• Proven track record in category management, supplier selection and development, and delivering documented cost savings.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment (FMCG, electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical industries preferred); exposure to NPI / NPD material sourcing is a plus.
• Hands-on experience sourcing chemicals and Non-Tobacco Materials (NTM), including packaging and raw materials, with good knowledge of chemical specifications, SDS/COA and related regulatory requirements.
• Experience sourcing across the region (e.g. Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Vietnam) is a plus.
• Good working knowledge of ERP / vendor management systems (e.g. Navision) and strong proficiency in MS Excel for cost and data analysis.

Part D:Specific Requirements

• Proven people leader who can set direction, delegate, coach and hold the team accountable to KPIs.
• Excellent negotiation, contracting and influencing skills, including with senior stakeholders and key suppliers.
• Strong analytical and commercial judgement; able to build business cases and make data-driven sourcing decisions.
• Able to work independently in a fast-paced and demanding environment and meet deadlines and targets.
• Strong project management skills to run multiple sourcing and NPI projects concurrently.
• Collaborative team player who builds strong cross-functional working relationships.
• Innovative thinker who challenges the status quo and drives continuous improvement.
• High integrity and strong understanding of compliance and governance requirements.
• Willing to travel regionally for supplier visits and audits.