Senior Indirect Purchasing Engineer / Specialist
Department: Purchasing / Supply Chain
Reports to: Supply Chain Director
Dotted-line to: Purchasing Manager
Main Objective
The Senior Indirect Purchasing Engineer / Specialist is responsible for managing strategic sourcing and procurement activities across indirect purchasing categories, including but not limited to CAPEX, MRO, construction and engineering services, facility and utility services, professional and corporate services, technology, software, and other operational services.
The position is responsible for ensuring that procurement activities deliver the optimum Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) while meeting company requirements for quality, delivery, safety, technical performance, compliance, and service.
The role manages the end-to-end sourcing process, including demand and specification review, supplier sourcing, RFQ/RFP and competitive bidding, commercial evaluation, cost analysis, negotiation, supplier recommendation, contract/commercial alignment, PO execution, and supplier performance management.
The position works closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Production, EHS, Finance, IT, and other internal stakeholders to ensure requirements and scopes of work are clearly defined, commercially competitive, appropriately controlled, and executed according to project and operational requirements.
The role requires a hands-on, analytical, commercially minded, and result-oriented individual with strong ownership and the ability to constructively challenge costs, specifications, suppliers, and commercial proposals.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage assigned indirect procurement categories, including CAPEX, MRO, construction and engineering services, facility projects, machine installation, maintenance services, professional services, IT/software, and other operational requirements.
- Develop and execute appropriate sourcing strategies based on business requirements, market conditions, supplier capability, cost competitiveness, and supply risk.
- Manage the complete sourcing and competitive bidding process, including supplier identification, RFQ/RFP, quotation and bid comparison, commercial evaluation, negotiation, supplier recommendation, and PO/contract execution.
- Work closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Production, EHS, Finance, IT, and other requestors to review and clarify Scope of Work (SOW), specifications, BOQ, technical requirements, acceptance criteria, budget, project schedule, and commercial requirements before approaching the market and supplier nomination.
- Perform commercial and cost analysis and constructively challenge supplier proposals, specifications, quantities, and cost structures where appropriate to achieve the best Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) without compromising quality, safety, technical requirements, service level, or project timeline.
- Evaluate, qualify, and select suppliers based on commercial competitiveness, technical capability, quality, delivery, safety, compliance, service capability, and supply risk, while developing and maintaining suitable alternative sources for critical categories.
- Lead or support CAPEX and project procurement, depending on project value and complexity, from the planning stage through completion, ensuring appropriate supplier competition, budget control, commercial terms, project schedule alignment, and control of commercial changes, variation orders, or additional work.
- Support the preparation, review, and commercial negotiation of contracts and service agreements, ensuring appropriate terms covering pricing, payment, delivery, warranty, service levels, liability, termination, change management, and other relevant commercial conditions.
- Monitor supplier and contractor performance and coordinate corrective and improvement actions where quality, cost, delivery, safety, service, or project execution does not meet agreed requirements.
- Identify and implement opportunities for cost reduction, cost avoidance, supplier consolidation, specification optimization, standardization, demand management, and procurement process improvement.
- Prepare and present sourcing recommendations, commercial evaluations, negotiation outcomes, procurement status, cost-saving initiatives, and key procurement risks to management to support effective decision-making.
- Ensure all procurement activities comply with company policies, delegation of authority, competitive bidding requirements, ethical and conflict-of-interest requirements, audit controls, and applicable legal and safety requirements, while maintaining complete and accurate procurement records.
- Perform other procurement-related duties as assigned by management.
Requirements
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree or above in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 8+ years of relevant procurement/purchasing experience, with position grade determined according to experience, competency, and demonstrated level of procurement responsibility.
- Demonstrated experience in indirect procurement categories such as CAPEX, MRO, construction, engineering services, facility projects, machine installation, maintenance services, professional services, or technical subcontracting.
- Experience in manufacturing environment is preferred.
Technical & Commercial Competencies
- Strong strategic sourcing and commercial negotiation capability.
- Good understanding of RFQ/RFP, competitive bidding, supplier evaluation, and procurement governance.
- Ability to review and commercially evaluate Scope of Work, technical specifications, BOQ, supplier quotations, and service proposals.
- Strong understanding of cost breakdown analysis, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), payment terms, commercial risk, and contract terms.
- Good understanding of CAPEX/project procurement and the ability to manage commercial requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
- Good understanding of supplier qualification, performance management, and supplier risk assessment.
- Strong analytical capability with the ability to compare complex technical and commercial proposals and translate findings into clear recommendations.
- Good command of English in reading, writing, presentation, negotiation, and business communication.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; experience with ERP and/or e-procurement systems is an advantage.
Behavioral Competencies
- Strong logical and analytical thinking.
- Commercially minded with the confidence to constructively challenge costs, specifications, and supplier proposals.
- Hands-on with strong ownership and attention to detail.
- Strong negotiation, communication, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
- Able to work effectively with Engineering, Maintenance, Production, EHS, Finance, IT, and other cross-functional stakeholders.
- Able to manage multiple sourcing projects and priorities simultaneously.
- Proactive, practical, ethical, and result-oriented.
- Able to communicate complex commercial issues and recommendations clearly and confidently to management.
Key Performance Indicators
- Cost Optimization
- Achievement of validated cost savings and cost avoidance against annual target.
- Sourcing & Project Delivery
- Completion of sourcing and procurement activities within agreed project and operational timelines.
- Supplier Performance
- Performance of assigned key suppliers and contractors against agreed quality, cost, delivery, safety, and service requirements.
- Procurement Compliance
- Compliance with competitive bidding, delegation of authority, contract, documentation, and audit requirements.
- Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Development
- Achievement of agreed category improvement initiatives, alternative sourcing, supplier development, consolidation, or other strategic procurement objectives.
