Senior Procurement Manager
About the job
Department:Procurement / Supply Chain
Reports To:Head of Procurement – APAC / Country Manager
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Employment Type: Full-time
Position Summary:
The Senior Procurement Manager is responsible for leading the procurement function for large-scale renewable energy projects in Japan, ensuring the delivery of cost-effective, high-quality, and timely goods and services. This role manages multimillion-euro contract portfolios, leads complex tender processes, negotiates with key suppliers, and ensures compliance with both global and local procurement standards. The manager plays a strategic role in supporting business growth and operational excellence in the Japanese market.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the commercial and contractual aspects of procurement for major renewable energy projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives and timelines.
- Manage a portfolio of contracts valued up to €100 million per year, including up to 50 contracts ranging from €350,000 to over €25 million each.
- Oversee end-to-end procurement activities: market surveys, vendor sourcing, tender management, contract negotiation, and vendor evaluation.
- Develop and implement procurement strategies to deliver annual cost savings and enhance supply chain efficiency.
- Negotiate and secure contracts with suppliers, ensuring best value, risk mitigation, and compliance with company and regulatory requirements.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, internal stakeholders, and business partners to support project delivery and innovation.
- Supervise logistics, warehousing, and transportation to ensure timely and safe delivery of materials and equipment
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineering, finance, legal, project management) to ensure procurement supports all project phases and business needs.
- Monitor procurement data, analyse market trends, and identify cost-saving and process improvement opportunities.
- Ensure all procurement activities adhere to ethical standards, transparency, and local Japanese work rules.
- Mentor and develop junior procurement team members and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
- Minimum 5–8 years of procurement experience, ideally in renewable energy, infrastructure, or large-scale industrial projects.
- Demonstrated experience managing high-value, complex contracts and leading tender processes.
- Strong negotiation, supplier management, and contract drafting skills.
- Deep understanding of Japanese market dynamics, regulations, and business practices.
- Proficiency in procurement and supply chain management tools (e.g., SAP, APPIAN) is preferred.
- Excellent communication skills in Japanese and English; additional language skills are a plus.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and leadership abilities.
Preferred Skills and Attributes:
- Master’s degree or relevant professional certifications (e.g., CIPS, PMP).
- Experience in both onshore and offshore renewable energy projects.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.
- Proactive, results-driven, and committed to ethical procurement practices.