Country Procurement Manager

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Job details

Company overview

Responsibilities

• Vendor Relationship Development Decide which liners & co-loaders can be used within the country beyond core carriers in alignment with the FCL trade lane procurement managers or FCL and LCL Product heads.
• Build and maintain relationship with core-carriers.
• Monitor and control core liners and co-loaders; coordinate local performance reviews and consolidate performance feedback for review meetings based on guidelines of the Regional product management.
• Define Root Cause Analysis and Action Plans for Carrier wrongdoings or mistakes together with them to enforce improved performance.
• Escalation point to carrier-related operational issues as per Procurement Escalation Matrix.
• Japan Ocean Freight StrategyImplement the Core Carrier Policy in the country as put forward by the regional FCL and LCL Product Managers. Monitor and improve constantly core carrier adherence.
• Evaluate the carriers’ performance, establishing objectives and building up sustainable and deep relationships locally.
• Define and align on the commercial and product strategy with the commercial head of Japan and the FCL and LCL Regional Procurement teams.
• Manage local allocations based on the commercial team requirements and the carrier capacity in order to ensure stability of service, together with the regional procurement team when needed.
• Forecast the needs in low and peak season for FCL.
• FCL Tariff, Rates and Contract ManagementRate negotiation, filing and contract generation with vendors for tenders, key accounts or big volumes
• Competitive rate negotiation for spot business or rates which do not fit into the negotiated standard tariffs, in a timely manner.
• Responsible for Tariff Management in Japan: local charges, customs clearance, trucking for ocean freight and freight charges or surcharges whenever needed.
• Responsible for ensuring the competitiveness of Japan’s rates in the LCL Global Tariff: to research, analyze and evaluate the competitiveness of the rates for their country and communicate with the LCL Product Head in the event that the rate levels are in line with the local market conditions.
• Business Development Regular meetings and product-sales collaboration reviews with Japan sales GM and Japan Country Manager
• Coordination with Japan sales management to ensure capturing new customer or lanes.
• Must lead ocean tender strategy for Japan, including risk-taking decisions for local accounts & tenders, with the last decision coming from the P&L owner of the country.
• Support the commercial teams by visiting customers that are strategic for the country, or where the Country Procurement Manager can add value and increase success chances.
• Provide competitive buying rates to existing and potential businesses.
• Japan Market Intelligence Support & Product Trainings:Regularly generate and share market intelligence within Japan and the FCL Trade Lane Procurement Managers and the LCL Head of the region in a methodical and standardized manner.
• Organize user-oriented product trainings in alignment with the FCL and LCL Product Management teams, to enhance sales & operations’ knowledge of products and systems.
• Must be done in alignment with the Regional Procurement teams (FCL and LCL products).
• Maintain a working rapport with Country management by providing expertise and education in capacity, pricing, and product management.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in an ocean procurement role in freight forwarding company or ocean carrier experience.
• Service minded and with a high degree of ownership as well as customer focused.
• Proactive and capable of handle responsibility without needing to be micromanaged.
• Strong operation understanding and capability to manage changes and unexpected events.
• Outgoing personality; strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to coordinate procurement initiatives throughout country and lead the procurement community on operational, tactical, and strategic level.
• Able to communicate well in English both spoken and written.
• Effective change agent with the ability to adjust change approach based on circumstances.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills and hands-on attitude
• Able to multitask in a deadline-driven work environment without losing attention to the details.
• Be results driven and is persistent in meeting day to day challenges and goals.
• Have the ability to multi-task in an intense, fast-paced, high-energy, environment.
• Demonstrate confidence as a performer and lead by example.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in people management and leadership, including recruitment, training & development, coaching, conflict, and performance management.
• Willingness to travel
• Passion for identifying how to constantly improve.

Salary

10 - 15 million yen

Location

Tokyo