Procurement & Inventory Manager

Job Description & Requirements

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Procurement & Inventory Manager to serve as the liaison and enforcer among management, the manufacturing lead, and external vendors, and to accelerate procurement execution while ensuring uninterrupted material availability for operations. This role is critical in ensuring that strategic decisions are translated into floor-level execution and that no task slippage occurs during rapid production pivots.

The goal of this role is to:

• Ensure business continuity through sufficient and accurate materials availability at all times

• Prevent inventory lapses through robust planning, reorder controls, and early-warning alerts

• Improve inventory visibility (accuracy, traceability, reporting, and dashboarding)

• Improve procurement speed while maintaining cost control and supplier performance

• Implement practical automation, process controls, and reporting tools

Responsibilities

1. Logistics & International Trade Oversight

End-to-End Logistics: Manage complex freight arrangements for high-mix shipments.

Risk Mitigation: Identify and manage Supply Chain Risks arising from macro-factors (e.g., shipping delays, trade tariffs, or changes in export regulations between China and Singapore).

Singapore Compliance: Maintain and audit the Major Exporter Scheme (MES) status to ensure GST-suspended imports and zero-rated exports are compliant with IRAS regulations.

2. Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation

• Vendor Management: Lead negotiations with suppliers. You must be proficient in Chinese (Written & Spoken) to review contracts with Chinese suppliers, manage WeChat communications, and understand local Chinese trade nuances.

• Contractual Adaptability: Negotiate flexible terms that support low-volume orders without compromising on quality or excessive MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) penalties.

• Visibility Dashboards: Build and maintain digital dashboards to eliminate Visibility Gaps, specifically tracking high-mix inventory levels and work-in-progress components

• Reporting: Provide weekly data-driven insights to Management and Manufacturing Lead regarding procurement lead times and landed cost variances.

3. Inventory & Supply Chain Management

• Monitor stock health through ERP (Odoo) and implement disposition plans when required

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve inventory control policies, procedures, and systems.

• Oversee inventory accuracy, including reconciliation of daily receipts, deliveries, and shipments.

• Analyze historical data and trends to forecast future material requirements and support business planning.

4. Procurement & Supplier Management

• Replace manual spreadsheet tracking with automated alerts to prevent human error in the procurement cycle.

• Lead procurement planning, sourcing strategies, and purchasing activities to ensure timely and cost-effective supply.

• Evaluate and drive supplier performance tracking to achieve optimal pricing, quality, and delivery performance.

5. Strategy and Leadership

• Establish automated reporting and dashboards for real-time visibility

• Drive continuous improvement projects that reduce lead time, expedite costs, and shortages

• Collaborate closely with management, engineering, and finance teams to align supply chain plans with business goals.

• Provide regular reports and insights to management on inventory performance, procurement costs, risk control measures, and improvement initiatives.

• Identify and drive process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.

Requirements and skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, Power Query preferred), Power BI is a plus

• Comfort working with electronics materials (components, reels, MSL handling awareness is a plus

• Professional proficiency in Mandarin is essential for direct communication with the Chinese supply base.

• 5+ years in Supply Chain or Procurement within a Manufacturing setting. Experience in HMLV (High-Mix Low-Volume) environments is highly preferred

• Strong knowledge of inventory planning, data analysis, and demand forecasting methods.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, prepare reports, and make data-driven decisions.

• Planning and stakeholder management abilities.

• Strong process discipline and clean documentation

• Effective communication and leadership skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally.

• High level of integrity, reliability, and accountability.

• Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.