Strategic Supplier Manager

ADVANTEST (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

ADVANTEST (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD. is seeking a Strategic Supplier Manager – Tier 1 to build and govern Global Integration Centers in line with the company’s supply network strategy.

In early phases, you will lead ramp-up programs, coordinate cross-functional stakeholders, and ensure readiness and milestones are met. As GICs mature, you will define supplier strategies, govern performance and contracts, and drive resilience, value creation, and long-term competitiveness.

Qualifications

• Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in strategic supplier management, sourcing or procurement with Tier-1 exposure.
• Experience in contract negotiation and supplier governance.
• Experience with globally matrix-organized teams and cross-business units.
• Strong project and program management capabilities in ramp-up or transformation initiatives.
• Proven problem-solving and decision-making in complex environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication; influence without authority.

Responsibilities

• Govern strategic Tier-1 supplier relationships across full lifecycle.
• Lead long-term commercial frameworks and negotiations for value creation.
• Establish and steer supplier performance, mitigate risks at strategic level.
• Support capacity planning and alignment across Tier-1 suppliers.
• Collaborate with Commodity Management, Quality, Product, Operations and leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement and supply base optimization.
• Set objectives, priorities, and accountability within supplier and project context.
• Foster collaboration and a culture of continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategic supplier management

Stakeholder management

Contract negotiation

Project management

Education

Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering or related field

Job description

Job Description

The Strategic Supplier Manager – Tier 1 is responsible for building, ramping up, and strategically governing Global Integration Centers (GICs) in alignment with Advantest’s long‑term supply network and business strategy.

In the initial phase, the role has a strong program and project management focus, acting as the lead for additional GIC ramp‑up and implementation. This includes driving operational readiness, coordinating cross‑functional stakeholders, aligning capacity and capability targets, and supporting the setup and stabilization of current and future Global Integration Centers. The role actively manages complex implementation challenges and ensures timely execution against ramp‑up milestones.

As the GICs mature, the role evolves into a Strategic Supplier Manager responsibility, with accountability for steering Tier‑1 supplier relationships at strategic level. This includes defining and executing supplier strategies in line with commodity and supply network objectives, governing supplier performance, managing commercial and contractual frameworks, and ensuring long‑term resilience, scalability, and value creation.

Throughout all phases, the Strategic Supplier Manager acts as a key interface between suppliers, operations, R&D, and senior leadership, applying strong problem‑solving capabilities, business judgment, and stakeholder management to address structural issues at a strategic level. The role ensures that Global Integration Centers (Tie-1) enable sustainable growth, operational stability, and long‑term competitive advantage for Advantest

Key responsibilities and duties:

• Strategic Supplier Management: govern strategic Tier‑1 supplier relationships along the full supplier lifecycle, define supplier strategies aligned with business objectives, commodity direction and supply network requirements
• Commercial & Contract Management: lead long‑term commercial frameworks and contract negotiations, enabling value creation through cost optimization, innovation, collaboration and balanced risk allocation
• Supplier Performance Management: establish and steer performance management, evaluate and mitigate supplier, capacity and supply chain risks, and lead corrective actions at strategic level
• Capacity & Supply Network Alignment: support strategic capacity planning and allocation to ensure scalability, resilience and business continuity across Tier‑1 suppliers
• Cross‑functional Collaboration: co‑operate closely with Commodity Management, Quality, Product Management, Operations and senior stakeholders to align supplier strategies with business and technology roadmaps
• Continuous Improvement: drive CI initiatives with suppliers, identify opportunities for innovation, multiple sourcing, supply base optimization and strengthened supply chain resilience
• Objectives & Accountability: set clear objectives, priorities and accountability within the extended supplier and project context
• Collaboration & Engagement: foster collaboration, engagement and a culture of continuous improvement across internal and external stakeholders
• KPI and Performance Management: Create transparency and track the following KPIs: OTD, TCO, Cost stability, Quality, Cost improvements. Define mitigation actions, if required

Requirements

• Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering or related field
• 5+ years of experience in strategic supplier management, sourcing, procurement or comparable roles with exposure to complex supplier environments (Tier‑1 / OEM / Contract Manufacturing)
• Experience in contract negotiation and supplier governance, including long‑term agreements, commercial frameworks, risk allocation and escalation management
• Experience working with globally matrix-organized teams and across business units
• Strong project and program management capabilities, with experience in ramp‑up, implementation or transformation initiatives in a supplier or operational context
• Proven problem‑solving and decision‑making skills in complex, ambiguous environments, balancing short‑term execution with long‑term strategic objectives
• Good understanding of supplier business and operating models, including cost drivers, capacity constraints and scalability considerations
• Solid stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to lead and influence without formal authority

All Locations

Singapore, Singapore

Field of Activity

Supply Chain