Indirect Procurement Buyer

Job Overview:

We are seeking a highly analytical, results-driven, and principled Senior Buyer to lead critical indirect spend categories. This role is critical in driving Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) optimization, supplier performance, and value creation, while ensuring strong alignment with business objectives and Global Procurement strategies and governance.

The successful candidate will act as a strategic procurement partner to cross‑functional stakeholders, navigating a complex manufacturing environment and leveraging market intelligence, technical expertise, and commercial acumen to deliver sustainable results.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Develop and execute category strategies, aligned with global procurement frameworks and regional business priorities.
• Conduct market intelligence, supplier benchmarking, and cost trend analysis to strengthen sourcing competitiveness and resilience.
• Lead RFx processes, supplier negotiations, and contract development, ensuring optimal commercial, technical, and risk outcomes.

Cost Optimization & Value Creation

• Identify and deliver cost savings, productivity improvements, and value creation opportunities.
• Drive initiatives on supplier consolidation, material standardization, and cross-site synergies to improve scale efficiency.
• Track, validate, and regularly report savings performance in line with procurement governance requirements.

Supplier Management & Performance

• Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships to enhance performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Lead supplier evaluations, business reviews, and risk assessments, ensuring supply continuity and compliance.
• Ensure suppliers meet company expectations on quality, compliance, ethics, and sustainability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the primary procurement interface for key internal stakeholders, working closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and other functions.
• Translate business requirements into effective sourcing and contracting solutions that support project execution and operational excellence.

Compliance & Ethics

• Uphold the highest standards of professional integrity and ethical conduct.
• Ensure all sourcing and contracting activities comply with corporate governance, procurement policies, and local regulatory requirements.

Education & Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical/Electrical/Industrial); advanced degree a plus.
• Minimum 10 years of procurement experience in manufacturing.

Technical & Functional Skills

• Strong Workability: Experienced for various CAPEX/OPEX projects, understanding SOW in RFQ and service delivery models; comfortable engaging engineers and operations leaders.
• Proven RFx, cost modeling/TCO, and complex contract negotiation skills.
• Experience with ERP, eSourcing, and data tools.
• Vendor risk management, SRM, and continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma exposure is a plus).

Behavioral & Language

• Highest professional integrity;
• Excellent communication, influence, and stakeholder-management skills; able to challenge constructively and gain alignment.
• Fluent in English and Japanese

Certifications (Preferred)

• CPSM, CIPS, CSCP, PMP or equivalent.