Category Buyer

Gutor is a leading international manufacturer of UPS systems for industrial applications. The company has been in business for over 75 years and has a proven track record of delivering high-quality products and services. Gutor's products are designed to meet the demanding needs of industries such as oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical, nuclear, and transportation. The company also has a global presence with over 500 employees in more than 30 countries and branches in Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S.A to name a few.

Gutor is committed to providing its customers with the best possible support. The company has a team of experienced engineers and technicians who are available to help with any problems that may arise.

We are looking for a Customer Project Buyer based in Malaysia to make an impact!

Location: Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Our Offer: What's in it for me

• Global family leave.
• 13th month salary.
• Performance Bonus.
• Personal development opportunities.
• Interactive employee engagement activities.
• Be part of a growing company with an excellent industry reputation, a recognized leader in a market where energy services are in demand.
• Positive corporate culture and strong team work.

SUMMARY OF JOB

A highly dynamic and commercially driven Customer Project Buyer operating in a fast‑paced Engineer‑to‑Order (ETO) environment, supporting global and regional project execution while actively managing category strategy for cables.

This role requires the ability to simultaneously manage multiple customer projects, regions, and sourcing priorities, often under tight timelines and evolving technical requirements. The position combines hands‑on project procurement execution with ongoing ownership of a global / regional category strategy, ensuring alignment between customer needs, plant requirements, cost competitiveness, and long‑term supplier strategy.

The Customer Project Buyer is responsible for both direct and indirect procurement activities. Direct procurement includes customer‑specific materials and components, while indirect procurement responsibilities may include sourcing services, tooling, consumables, and other non‑product‑related materials essential to project execution and operational continuity.

Acting as a central interface between Project Management, Engineering, Sales, Supply Chain, and regional/global suppliers, the role demands continuous prioritization, strong multitasking capability, rapid decision‑making, and proactive risk management in a high‑mix, low‑volume, and constantly changing environment. Success in this position requires the ability to translate global category strategy into regional and project‑specific execution while maintaining delivery, cost, and quality objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Project & Customer Support

o Lead and act as the primary procurement interface for multiple concurrent customer projects, supporting project managers, engineers, and sales teams from RFQ through business award, often in parallel across regions.

o Translate customer-specific requirements into actionable procurement quotes, ensuring timely quoting, negotiation and tracking of quotes for material and services.

o Manage overlapping RFQs, negotiations, and project milestones, continuously adjusting priorities in line with customer urgency and business impact.

• Procurement & Supply Chain Execution

o Manage both direct and indirect purchasing activities in parallel, including supplier selection, bids, awards, and contract execution.

o Support providing combined Forecasts of material to the Supply Chain Team based on project schedules and sales input, as needed.

o Coordinate with logistics and finance teams to ensure accurate receiving and payment of 3rd party goods, when necessary in your region.

o Execute indirect procurement activities including sourcing of services, tooling, consumables, and other non‑product‑related materials essential to project execution and ongoing operational continuity, alongside direct material procurement.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

o Work closely with engineering, project managers, quality, and sales teams across regions, aligning procurement execution with technical, commercial, and category strategy requirements.

o Provide regular updates on procurement status, risks, and mitigation plans, highlighting cross‑project or cross‑regional impacts where applicable.

o Participate in project meetings, as needed, to stay informed of changes in scope, timelines, and priorities.

o Support Engineering change processes and manage the impact on procurement, influencing early – stage discussions for cost-effective sourcing linked to overall Gutor Supplier Strategies.

o Act as a regional procurement reference point for assigned categories and project sourcing topics, supporting alignment of sourcing approaches, best practices, and supplier strategies across Asia locations.

• Supplier Management & Negotiation

o Identify, evaluate, and manage suppliers within assigned technologies and categories, including ownership of the global / regional cables category, ensuring alignment between project needs, regional execution, and long‑term sourcing strategy.

o Define, document, share and execute global and regional category strategies, ensuring consistent application across projects and plants while managing justified regional deviations.

§ Specifically in the cables/wire harness category providing clear recommendations to management that balance cost, lead time, risk, compliance, and regional supply constraints.

o Monitor supplier performance and resolve delivery or quality issues proactively.

o Develop strong relationships and establish material replenishment methods with vendors and suppliers.

• Continuous Prioritization & Adaptability

o Continuously evaluate and adjust priorities based on evolving customer orders and project dynamics.

o Support alignment of priorities across projects and regions, providing input and guidance to ensure critical sourcing topics are addressed consistently.

o Manage multiple projects and procurement workstreams simultaneously, balancing urgency, complexity, and resource availability across direct and indirect procurement activities.

SECONDARYDUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure the involvement of the purchasing function as early as possible in the project stage.
• Identifying potential risks in the procurement process and proposing risk mitigation strategies, while ensuring compliance with regulatory and company policies.
• Support of general activities in the procurement department as required to maintain business.
• Act as the procurement representative in customer onsite audits, updating the results to management.
• Additional, sourcing and projects as required, to maintain the plant operations and company targets
• Support corporate sustainability goals by sourcing environmentally friendly materials and promoting ethical sourcing practices.
• Ensure compliance with international trade regulations, export controls, and customer-specific requirements.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS – REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration or related field.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Previous experience in project based negotiation with proven track record.
• Able to negotiate, establish, and process contracts
• Able to prioritize and manage time efficiently
• Detail oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast paced environment
• Willingness to travel occasionally for supplier visits or industry events: 10% travel
• Fluent in English; additional languages (Spanish, German, French or Mandarin) are a plus

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS – DESIRED BUT NOT ESSENTIAL

• Experience with SAP systems and Microsoft Dynamics 365 (preferred)
• Certification in procurement (e.g., CIPS, CPM) is a plus
• Solid knowledge and understanding of purchasing processes, policy, and systems