Would you like to be a driving part in executing our global procurement strategy to (1) lead CAPEX procurement projects in the Middle East & Asia and (2) work to introduce & develop lower-cost high-quality CAPEX suppliers to serve our global production footprint in Europe?
“With our large & critical CAPEX pipeline in the Middle East and ambition to grow our CAPEX supplier base in the Asia region, you have the opportunity to make a real impact as you identify the right suppliers and support competitive tenders & negotiations that can help us unlock the potential of this market for our production and colleagues back home in Europe and across Arla Foods International. ” says Senior Procurement Director Bob den Hartog.
About the job
Based in Hong Kong SAR, you join a team of 7 dedicated and fun colleagues in our Asia & MENA procurement team, including 4 other sourcing responsibles, working together to secure the right supply at the right prices and quality for various global procurement projects.
With a key focus on the CAPEX category, you will drive procurement and tender projects to secure that we have optimal access to suppliers from the region. In this role, you are the one identifying, developing and representing CAPEX suppliers in the Middle East across the various projects we collaborate with our production and engineering teams on and in parallel promoting low-cost-country sourcing activities within this category.
“This is a unique and challenging position. Externally, you will take on the role of a buyer but you will also be taking on the role of a trusted advisor on internal decision-making processes, engineering discussions, proposal evaluations and technical assessments, providing your recommendations to your sourcing colleagues and dairy counterparts.” Bob adds.
Doing so, you also:
Engage in frequent communication with our select strategic focus CAPEX suppliers from Asia & the Middle East; and develop new ones Lead the CAPEX sourcing process in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Bangladesh following our Arla standards, negotiate best-in-class agreements and obtain the lowest possible price without risking the high quality Be involved in fire-fighting when unexpected hurdles or delays occur Monitor supplier performance, including reliability, risks & quality and drive supplier improvement projects together with quality colleagues when needed Support your fellow procurement managers with their designated categories, including at times exposure to logistics & operating services if/when needed Work closely with the managing director, providing your inputs and supporting the implementation of low-cost country sourcing strategies within CAPEX. Travel approximately 3-4 times a year, within mainland China to meet suppliers or to Europe or the Middle East to meet stakeholders & follow up on your projects Maintain proper communication with our global CAPEX procurement team to keep them updated on supplier development and align on supplier involvement & projects – with a dotted-line reporting into our Head of CAPEX sourcing based in SwedenWho are you?
With your curious nature, project management abilities, and “quality first” mindset, you are always looking for ways to challenge processes to strengthen them further and explore win-win solutions to remove any external and internal roadblocks to enable projects. You are flexible and enjoy working with a wide variety of projects simultaneously in a high pace environment. A strong technical or engineering background or passion will give you the stamina and interest to succeed in your mission.
Furthermore, you:
Hold 6+ years of experience with sourcing/procurement/CAPEX project management/engineering – preferably also from an international matrix organization Have strong communication & interpersonal skills for a stakeholder & project management Preferably, have experience with CAPEX sourcing, working within factories/dairies or from engineering companies Knowledge of logistics, direct materials or marketing sourcing is also an advantage Have experience in running cost savings projects and a record of achieving results Possess knowledge of strategic sourcing methodologies, total-cost-of-ownership principles and preferably also manoeuvering within SAP Ariba or Coupa Ideally have a technical education Are fluent in English – fluency in Arabic, Mandarin or Cantonese is an advantage Proficient in Microsoft Office incl. especially Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
What do we offer?
Joining our team in Asia & MENA procurement, you experience a global procurement function that connects you with colleagues from all over the world. You will be responsible for a growing category with equipment in Bahrain, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Denmark & Sweden.
You also get to partake in solving a great variety of exciting challenges and will gain exposure & be able to leverage your past experience in numerous sourcing categories.
Beyond doubt you will, in the team, be here to drive concrete measurable impact and be part of delivering on Arla Food’s goals to remain competitive in the growing dairy market.
Application and contact
If you want to seize this exciting opportunity, please apply as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the right candidate is found.
Shape the Future of Dairy
Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to producing high-quality products while championing sustainability and innovation. We're passionate about people and our planet, striving to unleash the full potential in each of us. Our goal is to make healthy dairy nutrition and good food habits accessible to all. Join us at Arla Foods and become part of a worldwide cooperative dedicated to making a significant impact on the planet and steering the dairy industry towards a sustainable future.
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