Operational Buyer

Role objective

The Operational Buyer is tasked with securing materials for Continuous Improvement Projects (CIPs), Customer Specific Requirements (CSRs), and New Product Introductions (NPIs). The role focuses on meeting demand at the lowest feasible cost, with the shortest practical lead time, on-time delivery, and quality compliance. The position also follows the 6R logistics principle: right material, right price, right quality, right time, right place, and right conditions.

Key responsibilities

• Collect and assess supplier quotations.
• Run price negotiations using open-cost analysis, lead time, landed cost, and total cost considerations.
• Plan and place material orders for NPIs in SAP based on demand.
• Work closely with the local planning team.
• Prepare and release purchase orders linked to quotations.
• Coordinate with suppliers on corrective actions for escalated issues, including on-time delivery delays, and identify alternate suppliers when needed.
• Support NPI activities end to end.
• Partner with global Strategic Supply Management and operational purchasing teams in Malaysia and China on supplier evaluation, product ramp-up, and project-material demand requests.
• Pass engineering change requests to suppliers in coordination with Manufacturing Engineering.
• Create analysis and reports to support sourcing strategy and strategic planning.
• Drive ongoing quality improvements across the supply chain with teams such as Product Group, Research & Development, Material Management, and Finance.
• Review and validate invoices when there are price variances against purchase orders.
• Negotiate agreements with product and non-product suppliers for management approval.
• Ensure purchasing master data, vendor records, and contracts are complete, accurate, and maintained, and take action when gaps are found.

Accountabilities

• Manage the day-to-day material purchasing workflow.
• Ensure materials and services are available on time.
• Improve material movement and inventory levels.
• Put supplier agreements into practice within purchasing processes, including payment terms and Incoterms.
• Deliver on cost targets and shortest-lead-time objectives.

Education and experience

This role requires a degree, preferably with a Mechanical Engineering background. Candidates should bring 3 years of experience in global sourcing, along with hands-on exposure to supplier qualification, audits, and corrective action handling.

Required expertise

The ideal candidate should have practical experience with SAP/R3, strong negotiation ability, and a solid understanding of supply chain operations and key production and assembly processes. Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, especially Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, is also expected.

Personal attributes

Applicants should think in a cost-conscious, practical way and bring strong interpersonal and communication skills. A collaborative mindset, high self-reliance, a strong drive to deliver, flexibility, and comfort with changing priorities are important for success in this role.

Additional information

This position is based in Singapore and is a full-time, onsite role. The hiring process is described as safe and transparent, and candidates are informed that payment, bank details, or sensitive personal data will not be requested during recruitment. By responding to the advertisement and engaging in follow-up communication, applicants consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data for recruitment and employment purposes under the Personal Data Protection Act 2012.