Procurement Director

Our client, a part of an European group of companies specialising in automotive replacement parts, is looking for a Procurement Director with direct industry experience to join their team in Singapore.

**Responsibilities**:

- Maintain and improve the performance of all group product ranges through proactive management of existing items and ensuring that the company’s supplier portfolio allows the company to introduce new items that are in line with the defined purchasing strategy.
- Establish and maintain close working relationships with all interested Bilstein group parties to support their requirements.
- Ensure good network and rapport with existing and new suppliers around the world to ensure product ranges sourced meet the agreed purchasing strategy.
- Create, review and implement product range commercial strategies for the assigned product types.
- Ensure the most suitable range and depth of products are available to customers and that they are tailed commercially, where appropriate, for individual markets across the world.
- Lead buying of products in specific product groups and visit group suppliers on regular basis.
- Ensure that the team is the leading authority within the group of companies for assigned product groups from a commercial, competitor and market perspective.
- Support, develop and manage team of direct repots, through knowledge sharing, mentoring and employee engagement.
- Formulate purchasing strategies for product based on business requirements and present them to the Head of Category Procurement and Group Procurement Director for consideration and approval.
- Analyse margin and supply performance of product group/suppliers, including gathering and collating data required, conducting periodic reviews of both new and existing suppliers and explore competitive purchasing solution, if required
- Proactively identify suppliers and product groups outside of the agreed commercial parameters and work with Category Specialists to ensure that issues are resolved in a timely manner.
- Negotiate/re-negotiate supplier terms for all product groups under his/her control including, but not limited to, the purchase price, shipping terms, product quality expectations, lead time, payment terms, packaging/labelling requirements, product image and marking, regulation compliance requirements.
- Keep up-to-date with technological changes and developments of the assigned product groups to understand their impact on the business and the group supply base
- Ensure team members maintain product function and production technical understanding of assigned product groups
- Maintain broad knowledge of the trading markets and direct competitors for assigned product groups
- Support and assist all Bilstein group departments and subsidiaries in the maintenance of existing supplier commercial relationships, investigation of potential commercial improvements, supplier and trade show visits internationally, patent awareness, warranty issues and concerns, franchise management, original equipment sample management support etc.

**Requirements**:

- Bachelor degree, with at least 5 years of people management experience in the relevant procurement field
- Prior dealing with international suppliers and counterparts
- SAP experience
- Skilled and experienced negotiator
- Detailed knowledge of the world aftermarket
- Previous experience in automotive parts procurement or OE main dealer parts/workshop, or independent aftermarket retailer or supplier
- Good network in the automotive parts industry
- Analytical skills and strong commercial acumen
- Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills
- Organised yet adaptable to dynamic environment
- Need to liaise and communicate with vendors and customers in China. As such, knowledge of written and spoken Chinese is essential.

Employment Agency License No.: 08C3209

Registration No.: R1101742