Indirect Purchasing Ford Champ (Trainee)

As an Indirect Purchasing Trainee, you will join a dynamic team responsible for acquiring critical services (from Major Construction and plant maintenance to IT and corporate services). You will be immersed in the complete procurement lifecycle: from initial market analysis and the development of Local Commodity Strategies (LCSs), to supporting complex contract negotiations and evaluating supplier performance.

We are looking for someone who does not settle for the "status quo." Your primary mission, in addition to learning under the mentorship of senior buyers, will be to leverage your analytical skills to research market trends, evaluate cost models, and propose disruptive initiatives. You will act as a catalyst for new optimization methodologies, helping to integrate continuous improvement (Lean) principles and process digitalization that facilitate team agility and foster Value Engineering.

Responsibilities

1. Strategic Support & Data Analysis:

• Assist Buyers in the creation and updating of Local Commodity Strategies (LCSs) by gathering market intelligence and analyzing the capacity of Construction, Services, and MRO suppliers.
• Extract, consolidate, and analyze purchasing data and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify spend patterns (spend analysis) and develop data-driven recommendations to support decision-making.

2. Innovation & Continuous Improvement (Value Engineering):

• Proactively identify bottlenecks or operational opportunities in the daily procurement process, proposing and implementing innovative solutions (e.g., report automation, enhancing the use of procurement tools like SAP/Ariba, or finding new ways to interact with internal stakeholders).
• Collaborate on cost optimization initiatives, supporting the creation of financial models and benchmarks that expose cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or safety.

3. Project Management Support & Negotiation:

• Actively participate (as support and shadow) in large-scale project bids, from initial budget planning through to final vendor selection.
• Manage and lead the procurement process for lower-complexity projects or specific sub-commodities (under Buyer supervision) to develop direct negotiation and contract management skills.

4. Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) & Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Serve as an agile liaison for operational follow-ups with suppliers and internal stakeholders (Engineering, Maintenance, IT, etc.), ensuring seamless cross-functional communication.
• Support the measurement of supplier performance (evaluating SLAs, delivery times, and quality metrics), ensuring their adherence to company values and standards.

5. Risk Management & Compliance:

• Assist in the validation of documentary requirements, supplier financial health, and compliance to mitigate potential risks in the supply chain.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Final-year university student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial/Civil Engineering, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• 0 to 2 years of experience (previous internships or academic projects in Procurement, Logistics, Data Analytics, or Project Management are a strong plus).

Technical & Language Skills:

• Fluent/Advanced English proficiency (both written and spoken) is required to communicate effectively with global teams and suppliers.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel for data management and PowerPoint for executive presentations).
• Highly desirable: Familiarity or eagerness to learn data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) and Procurement ERP/Systems (e.g., SAP, SAP Ariba) to drive the automation and innovation responsibilities of the role.

Soft Skills & Mindset:

• Ability to translate raw data into actionable insights and cost-saving opportunities.
• A "self-starter" mentality. Unafraid to challenge the status quo, ask questions, and propose new, more efficient ways of doing things.
• Ability to build relationships and work collaboratively in cross-functional teams.
• Highly organized with a strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.