Procurement Assistant Manager

Job Summary: The Procurement Assistant Manager is responsible for leading day-to-day procurement operations while ensuring efficient sourcing, commercial competitiveness, and effective stakeholder management across the organization. This role serves as the operational bridge between Procurement, Finance, Project, Marketing, Operations, and other business functions, ensuring procurement activities support business objectives while maintaining governance and compliance. In addition to operational procurement, this position is expected to develop team capability, provide coaching to procurement team members, and contribute to building a scalable procurement function that supports the company's growth.

Key Responsibilities:

A. Procurement Operations & Commercial Leadership

• Lead end-to-end procurement activities across operational, project, store expansion, leasing support, marketing, and other indirect procurement categories.
• Develop sourcing strategies and lead commercial negotiations to achieve the best overall value for the business.
• Drive supplier performance while ensuring timely delivery, cost efficiency, and compliance.
• Support procurement planning for new store openings and business expansion.

B. Stakeholder & Team Leadership

• Act as the primary procurement partner for internal stakeholders across business functions.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Procurement team while allocating priorities and workload.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Support recruitment and capability development within the Procurement function.

C. Continuous Improvement & Governance

• Drive continuous improvement of procurement processes and sourcing practices.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies and governance requirements.
• Identify procurement risks and recommend practical commercial solutions.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Business Administration, or other related fields.
• Minimum 6 years of procurement experience, preferably in Retail, FMCG, or other multi-site business environments.
• Proven experience in indirect procurement, including exposure to marketing, facilities, corporate services, construction, leasing support, or other business support functions.
• Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, and developing procurement teams or acting as the operational owner of a procurement function.
• Proven experience collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to support business objectives and procurement decision-making.
• Experience supporting new store openings, expansion projects, or business growth initiatives is highly preferred.
• Experience working in a fast-paced or startup environment is an advantage.
• Strong commercial negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Leadership and people development capability.
• Strong analytical thinking, business judgment, and problem-solving skills.
• English: Professional working proficiency (written and verbal), including communication with regional stakeholders.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (especially Excel), Google Workspace, and ERP systems.
• High integrity and ownership.
• Hands-on with a strong leadership mindset.
• Effective communicator and influencer.
• Adaptable, with a strong learning and continuous improvement mindset.
• Willing to travel for site visits and vendor coordination when required