NPI Buying Team Leader (Senai, Johor)

Job Summary

The NPI (New Product Introduction) Buying Team Leader is responsible for managing the sourcing and procurement of materials and components required for new product development projects. This role focuses on supplier selection, cost negotiation, material availability, and supply chain risk management to ensure project milestones are achieved within established timelines and budgets. The ideal candidate possesses strong technical and commercial knowledge, excellent supplier management skills, and a solid understanding of procurement processes in a fast-paced manufacturing or product development environment.

Detailed Job Responsibilities

• Take ownership of assigned NPI projects and ensure all materials listed in the Clear-to-Build (CTB) requirements are available, identifying and resolving critical material shortages.
• Conduct daily CTB reviews with the planning team to communicate material availability, highlight potential risks, and participate in meetings as required by Materials Planning (MP) or Project Management (PM).
• Evaluate requests for quotations (RFQs), assess material requirements, and coordinate procurement activities to support manufacturing build schedules across assigned NPI projects.
• Conduct market research to identify and evaluate potential suppliers based on technical capabilities, quality, cost, delivery performance, and reliability.
• Identify potential supply chain risks affecting NPI projects and develop contingency plans to minimize disruptions.
• Collaborate with Research and Development (R&D), Engineering, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, and Planning teams to align procurement activities with project specifications and production requirements.
• Participate in design reviews to understand material specifications, technical requirements, and engineering changes.
• Coordinate Engineering Change Order (ECO) activities, including purchase order superseding, material replacement, and rework arrangements.
• Develop and implement supply chain optimization strategies for NPI projects, focusing on lead-time reduction, inventory management, and logistics efficiency.
• Monitor and manage procurement activities throughout the NPI lifecycle, providing timely updates to stakeholders and resolving supply issues that may affect project schedules.
• Ensure material availability aligns with manufacturing build requirements while maintaining optimal inventory levels and minimizing excess stock.
• Work closely with Engineering, Planning, and suppliers to coordinate material rework activities and reduce excess and obsolete (E&O) inventory.
• Collaborate with Accounts Payable (A/P) to investigate and resolve supplier invoice payment discrepancies.
• Work with the Engineering team to address SRA-related issues and communicate relevant updates to the appropriate stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Ensure suppliers comply with established shipment approval procedures and requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in procurement or purchasing, preferably with specific experience in NPI procurement within a manufacturing or technology environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, procurement processes, inventory management, and supplier relationship management.
• Understanding of material types, engineering specifications, and engineering change management processes.
• Basic knowledge of production planning, scheduling, Material Requirements Planning (MRP), and manufacturing control systems.
• Proven ability to negotiate effectively, manage supplier relationships, and resolve complex procurement issues.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple NPI projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines and maintaining material availability.