Senior Procurement Lead – Manufacturing

The Senior Procurement Lead will oversee and manage high-volume procurement requirements for a manufacturing operation, with a strong focus on hands-on purchasing and sourcing activities.

The role covers direct materials, including high-value ingredients and packaging materials, with both local and international sourcing requirements. The position requires a strong understanding of how procurement connects with demand planning, production planning, inventory, warehousing, and overall supply chain operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage day-to-day procurement and purchasing requirements for a manufacturing operation.
• Handle sourcing and purchasing activities across a large and diverse range of materials and SKUs.
• Manage approximately 3,000 materials/SKUs and ensure timely availability of materials required for production.
• Source and procure direct materials, particularly high-value ingredients and packaging materials.
• Manage both local and international suppliers and sourcing requirements.
• Coordinate closely with Demand Planning, Production Planning, Warehousing, Inventory, and other supply chain functions.
• Ensure alignment between demand, production requirements, inventory levels, warehousing capacity, and supply availability.
• Evaluate suppliers, sourcing options, pricing, lead times, MOQs, and other procurement considerations.
• Manage procurement requirements involving materials with different volume, MOQ, lead-time, and sourcing complexities.
• Work with suppliers to address purchasing, delivery, availability, and other supply-related concerns.
• Support efficient inventory management by aligning purchasing activities with actual production and demand requirements.
• Develop and maintain effective supplier relationships for critical materials.
• Identify opportunities to improve sourcing, purchasing processes, cost efficiency, and supply continuity.
• Provide procurement and supply chain insights to management and relevant stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong experience in procurement, purchasing, or supply chain within an FMCG or manufacturing environment.
• Experience handling direct materials is highly preferred.
• Strong hands-on experience in actual buying, sourcing, and day-to-day procurement activities.
• Experience managing a large number of materials, SKUs, suppliers, or purchasing requirements.
• Exposure to high-value ingredients, raw materials, packaging materials, or similar manufacturing inputs.
• Experience with both local and international sourcing is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of the relationship between demand planning, production planning, inventory, warehousing, and procurement.
• Ability to manage multiple material categories and procurement requirements simultaneously.
• Strong supplier management, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Must be comfortable with a hands-on operating environment and actively involved in procurement activities, rather than focusing solely on managerial or strategic responsibilities.