Brief Summary
The Head of Purchasing will play a pivotal role in optimizing procurement processes to enhance cost efficiency and product quality. This position offers the opportunity to strategically lead sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations.
Responsibilities
- Lead all purchasing activities for fresh produce, dry goods, packaging, and consumables. Develop and manage a robust supplier base: onboard new suppliers, streamline existing partnerships, and effective performance management. Design and execute cross-border sourcing strategies between Malaysia and Singapore, including logistics management. Establish pricing benchmarks for product categories and oversee contract negotiations, incorporating seasonal and forward purchasing frameworks. Maximize spare import capacity by optimizing warehouse stock management and facilitating unused shipment space sales. Reduce wastage by improving product specifications, shelf-life requirements, and order planning. Ensure purchasing decisions lead to accurate and complete deliveries to customers on the first attempt. Negotiate enhanced payment terms and consignment agreements with suppliers. Maintain supplier scorecards evaluating quality, delivery reliability, credit terms, and compliance. Document a reliable sourcing process for operations in your absence.
Requirements
- Minimum educational qualification: Bachelor's degree. 4-7 years of experience in purchasing, particularly with fresh produce or food ingredients, preferably with a distributor, hotel group, restaurant chain, caterer, or large food service organization. Established networks with growers, packers, or importers in at least two of the following markets: Singapore, Malaysia, China, Australia, Africa, the Netherlands. Proven history of achieving measurable cost savings through effective negotiation and supplier management. Strong commercial negotiation skills and sound judgement regarding product quality and specifications. Proficiency in developing and maintaining price tracking tools using Google Sheets or similar applications. Willingness to travel to Johor Bahru approximately once a month.
