Foreign Purchasing Supervisor

Job Purpose

The Foreign Purchasing Supervisor is responsible for managing and coordinating all foreign purchasing activities at Bavaria Egypt, ensuring the timely and cost-effective procurement of raw materials, packaging materials, spare parts, machinery, and other required items from international suppliers.

He/she ensures the availability of purchased materials in line with production plans, inventory requirements, quality standards, and business objectives, while optimizing purchasing costs, payment terms, and supplier performance.

The Foreign Purchasing Supervisor is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and developing international suppliers, negotiating commercial terms, and coordinating with suppliers, freight forwarders, Shipping, Finance, Warehouse, Quality, and other internal departments to ensure the smooth execution of foreign purchasing activities.

He/she is also responsible for monitoring purchase orders, supplier delivery schedules, import requirements, and procurement documentation to ensure timely delivery and compliance with company policies and applicable regulations.

Work is performed under the supervision of the Supply Chain Manager, but considerable leeway is granted for the use of independent judgment and initiative.

Job Responsibilities

1. Foreign Purchasing Operations and Coordination

• Manage and coordinate all foreign purchasing activities to ensure the timely procurement of materials, spare parts, machinery, and other required items in accordance with approved purchasing plans and business requirements.

• Coordinate with Planning, Production, Warehouse, Quality, Finance, Shipping, and other relevant departments to determine purchasing priorities, material requirements, delivery schedules, and stock availability.

• Prepare, issue, and follow up on purchase orders to ensure supplier confirmation, compliance with agreed specifications, and timely delivery of ordered materials.

• Monitor purchase order status, supplier lead times, shipping schedules, and expected arrival dates, taking appropriate actions to prevent delays and minimize the risk of material shortages or production interruptions.

2. International Supplier Management and Negotiation

• Identify, evaluate, and develop new international suppliers and alternative sources of supply to improve purchasing competitiveness, ensure material availability, and reduce dependency on individual suppliers.

• Analyze existing and potential suppliers based on price, quality, lead time, reliability, payment terms, service level, and overall commercial performance.

• Negotiate prices, payment terms, delivery conditions, minimum order quantities, and other commercial terms with international suppliers to achieve the best possible purchasing conditions in coordination with relevant functions.

• Maintain effective relationships with international suppliers, monitor supplier performance, and recommend corrective actions or alternative suppliers when required.

3. Purchasing Documentation, Cost Control, and Reporting

• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of foreign purchasing documentation, including purchase orders, proforma invoices, commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, technical specifications, and other documents required for import and payment procedures.

• Coordinate with Shipping, Finance, and other relevant departments to ensure proper alignment between purchasing terms, shipment arrangements, payment requirements, and import documentation.

• Monitor foreign purchasing costs, exchange rate impacts, supplier price changes, payment terms, and other commercial factors that may affect procurement budgets and total purchasing costs.

• Prepare regular reports on purchase order status, supplier performance, purchasing costs, delivery delays, outstanding orders, cost-saving initiatives, and other key performance indicators (KPIs), identifying risks and opportunities for improvement.

Requirements

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

• 7+ years of experience in foreign purchasing, international procurement, or a related supply chain function, preferably within a manufacturing environment.

• Proven experience in managing international suppliers and foreign purchasing operations.

• Strong practical experience in international purchasing procedures, purchase order management, supplier negotiations, and import coordination is required.

• Good knowledge of international trade terms (Incoterms), international payment methods, import documentation, and foreign procurement processes.

• Good understanding of supplier evaluation, purchasing cost analysis, lead-time management, and total cost optimization.

• Good understanding of ERP systems preferable Oracle and Microsoft Office Suite.

• Experience in identifying, evaluating, and developing international suppliers and alternative sources of supply.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess purchasing risks, resolve supplier issues, and develop effective procurement solutions.

• Excellent communication, coordination, and negotiation skills to effectively work with international suppliers, Shipping, Finance, Warehouse, Production, and other internal departments.