Indirect Purchasing Manager

Job description

Role Overview

The Purchasing Manager will lead the indirect procurement for the Safran entities located in Singapore. This role is responsible for managing a team of 5 people, overseeing end-to-end tactical purchasing operations while developing strategic sourcing initiatives for indirect categories. The position currently focuses on the Singapore operations and could evolve to expand responsibilities across Southeast Asia region according to the Group expansion.

Team Leadership & People Management

• Lead, coach, and develop the local team (commodity buyers and tactical buyers), manage the annual performance review and daily operations smooth continuity.
• Allocate workload effectively, balancing strategic sourcing projects with daily transactional purchasing activities (POs approval, manage the SSC (Supplier Selection Committee), review the legal contractual aspects with the team.
• Establish clear KPIs for the team including Cost reduction target and follow-up, on-time delivery, supplier development and performance management
• Foster a collaborative team culture that encourages continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Review the department budget, revision and be able to have an analysis on the Mid Term Plan (5 years) for the department with the inputs of the entities (spent forecast, major change, development strategy).
• Strategic Sourcing - Category Management & Saving (productivity)
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for key indirect spend categories (e.g., CAPEX and OPEX, tooling, consumables, IT, professional services, facilities, logistics) .
• Lead RFPs/RFQs, negotiate contracts, and establish supplier panels that deliver cost savings while maintaining quality standards required in aerospace manufacturing .
• Conduct spend analysis to identify cost reduction opportunities and develop category roadmaps.
• Collaborate with global/regional procurement teams to align with corporate sourcing strategies .

Define the productivity targets for OPEX and CAPEX in line with the HQ guidelines and report on monthly basis on the performance to the entities and to the HQ. .

Contract management

Review the Purchasing contract terms and conditions, able to propose some rewording and coordinate with Legal Department and lawyers.

• Tactical & Transactional Operations
• Oversee daily purchase request (PR) and purchase order (PO) processing, ensuring accuracy in pricing, terms, and delivery schedules within ERP systems (e.g., SAP) .
• Proactively manage order expediting, delivery coordination, and resolution of supply-related issues.
• Serve as escalation point for invoice discrepancies, collaborating with Accounts Payable and suppliers to resolve unmatched invoices.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, Delegation of Authority (DOA), and audit requirements.

KPIs monitoring

• Guarantee the accuracy of the KPIs and m

Experience & Education

• Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration Management, Purchasing/Procurement
• Minimum 6–8 years of procurement experience, with at least 5 years in a managerial capacity leading teams .
• Proven experience in indirect procurement in an industrial environment
• Experience working in a shared services or regional procurement setup is highly advantageous.
• Technical & Functional Skills

Systems

• Strong proficiency in ERP systems (SAP MM, Oracle) and procurement platforms.

Analytical

• Excellent data analysis skills with ability to use Power BI, Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP) for spend analysis and reporting .

Negotiation

• Strong commercial negotiation and contract management capabilities .

Procurement Knowledge

• Deep understanding of Source-to-Pay (S2P) processes, P2P cycles, Incoterms, and procurement governance .
• Soft Skills & Personal Attributes

Leadership

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop a team in a fast-paced environment .

Stakeholder Management

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Customer oriented mindset

Problem-Solving

• Hands-on, proactive approach to resolving operational escalations.

Resilience

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and thrive under pressure, especially given current aerospace supply chain challenges .

Integrity

• High ethical standards and compliance mindset .