Procurement Specialist/Buyer (Japanese Speaking)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Japanese-speaking Procurement Specialist to join a thriving international organisation based in PJ. This role offers you the chance to immerse yourself in a truly multicultural environment, collaborating with colleagues from across Asia Pacific and beyond. You will play a pivotal part in supporting sourcing activities, managing quotations, and building relationships that drive excellence in procurement.

As a Procurement Specialist/ Buyer (Japanese Speaking), you will be entrusted with managing tactical sourcing activities that are essential to the smooth operation of the business. Your day-to-day responsibilities include :

• Manage the end-to-end process of sourcing activities for items not covered by existing agreements, ensuring alignment with category strategies and organisational objectives.
• Conduct comprehensive market research, obtain competitive quotes, and perform price comparisons to support effective spot buying decisions.
• Maintain accurate sourcing data for spot buy materials, including site-specific information to ensure transparency and compliance.
• Create purchase orders for indirect materials and services while adhering to established procurement procedures and service levels.
• Provide language-specific sourcing support and market analysis as required, particularly when engaging with Japanese vendors or stakeholders.
• Investigate root causes of invoice non-conformity issues and collaborate with relevant teams to resolve discrepancies efficiently.
• Build constructive relationships with local teams responsible for Indirect Material Sourcing across Asia Pacific, fostering open communication and cooperation.
• Negotiate terms, conditions, and prices with suppliers in the region; identify opportunities for improvement; report savings; and manage contracts for smaller regular services.
• Oversee the documentation of internal processes to support the globalisation of procurement practices and ensure consistency across regions.

Your skillsets and experiences shall include :

• University degree in business administration or a related field is required to ensure foundational knowledge in procurement principles.
• Business fluency in both Japanese (reading, writing, speaking) and English is essential due to frequent interactions with vendors from Japan and other APAC countries.
• A minimum of three years’ experience working within a multicultural procurement shared services environment is necessary to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes effectively.
• Proficiency in using sourcing tools such as SAP or SRM Chili is highly desirable for efficient management of procurement processes.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct market research, analyse supplier performance, negotiate terms, and report on cost savings is important for success in this role.
• Experience supporting invoice reconciliation processes by investigating non-conformities ensures accuracy in financial transactions.
• Strong interpersonal skills are vital for building collaborative relationships within local teams as well as regional partners across Asia Pacific.
• Excellent organisational abilities enable you to maintain precise records of sourcing data while managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Openness to a one-year contract role demonstrates adaptability and commitment to contributing value during the assignment period.

What's next:

If you're ready to take your career to the next level, apply for this Japanese-speaking Procurement Specialist position.

Do note that we will only be in touch if your application is shortlisted.

Robert Walters SEA is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.