Buyer

Job Overview :

The Buyer function is responsible for managing the procurement of goods and services required to support the company’s barging, vessel, marine, technical, and shore-based operations. The function ensures that operational requirements are sourced and delivered in a timely, cost-effective, and compliant manner while maintaining appropriate quality and availability.

The scope covers sourcing and purchasing of vessel spare parts, marine and technical equipment, maintenance materials, operational supplies, services, and other business requirements. Depending on the position level, the role may focus on day-to-day purchasing activities or take broader responsibility for supplier management, procurement planning, negotiation, cost optimization, risk management, and overall procurement performance.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities :

1. Operational Procurement

• Receive, review, and process purchase requests from vessel, Technical, Marine, Store, Barging, and other operational functions.
• Procure vessel spare parts, machinery and equipment, maintenance materials, marine supplies, safety equipment, tools, consumables, and other operational requirements.
• Ensure purchased goods and services meet the required specifications, quantity, quality, budget, and delivery timeline.
• Prioritize procurement requirements based on vessel schedules, maintenance plans, operational urgency, and business priorities.
• Support urgent procurement requirements that may affect vessel readiness or operational continuity.

2. Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Identify and evaluate suppliers capable of providing marine, technical, vessel, maintenance, and operational requirements.
• Source quotations from suitable suppliers and conduct commercial and technical comparisons.
• Maintain an adequate supplier base for critical vessel and operational requirements.
• Monitor supplier performance in terms of quality, price, availability, delivery, responsiveness, and service.
• Develop alternative suppliers for critical spare parts, equipment, and operational materials to reduce supply risks.
• Maintain effective working relationships with suppliers and service providers.

3. Marine & Technical Procurement

• Coordinate procurement of vessel spare parts, machinery components, electrical items, tools, maintenance materials, and other technical requirements.
• Support procurement requirements related to vessel maintenance, repair, docking, and other technical activities.
• Coordinate with Technical, Marine, Drydocking, Store, and vessel teams to understand specifications and operational requirements.
• Ensure technical requirements are clarified with the relevant user before supplier selection and purchasing.
• Follow up on availability and lead time of critical or specialized marine and technical items.

4. Purchasing & Delivery Coordination

• Prepare and process purchase orders and other procurement documentation in accordance with company procedures.
• Follow up purchase orders from order confirmation through delivery.
• Coordinate delivery schedules with suppliers, Store, vessel teams, logistics, and other relevant parties.
• Monitor delivery of goods to vessels, ports, workshops, warehouses, or designated company locations.
• Follow up on delayed, incomplete, damaged, or non-conforming deliveries.
• Ensure urgent operational requirements are escalated and followed up appropriately.

5. Price Negotiation & Cost Optimization

• Obtain competitive quotations and negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead time, and other commercial conditions.
• Compare supplier quotations based on price, quality, specifications, availability, delivery, and overall commercial value.
• Monitor market prices for frequently purchased marine, technical, and operational items.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings through supplier negotiation, alternative sourcing, consolidation, or better purchasing arrangements.
• For higher-level positions, monitor procurement spending and develop strategies to improve overall procurement cost efficiency.

6. Vessel Readiness & Operational Continuity

• Coordinate with operational teams to identify procurement requirements that may affect vessel readiness.
• Monitor critical and time-sensitive procurement items required for vessel maintenance and operations.
• Support procurement planning based on vessel maintenance schedules, drydocking plans, sailing schedules, and operational requirements.
• Escalate potential supply delays that may affect vessel deployment, maintenance completion, or cargo transportation.
• Maintain appropriate coordination between procurement activities and barging operational priorities.

7. Procurement Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure procurement activities follow company policies, approval processes, procurement procedures, and applicable requirements.
• Maintain complete documentation including purchase requests, quotations, quotation comparisons, purchase orders, supplier information, and supporting documents.
• Ensure appropriate approvals are obtained before procurement commitments are made.
• Maintain accurate procurement records for audit and management review.
• Maintain confidentiality of supplier information, pricing, and commercial terms.

8. Supplier Performance & Risk Management

• Monitor supplier reliability and performance, particularly for critical marine and operational requirements.
• Identify supply risks related to availability, lead time, price fluctuations, supplier dependency, and quality.
• Develop or support alternative sourcing arrangements for critical items.
• Follow up supplier issues and coordinate corrective actions where required.
• Support supplier evaluation and periodic performance reviews.

9. Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain procurement data related to purchasing activities, supplier performance, pricing, delivery status, and outstanding orders.
• Prepare regular procurement reports and updates for management.
• Analyze procurement data to identify spending patterns, recurring requirements, delays, and improvement opportunities.
• Support standardization and improvement of purchasing processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve procurement efficiency while maintaining operational requirements and vessel readiness.

10. Team & Procurement Management

• Provide guidance and coordination to Buyer/procurement team members according to the position level.
• Ensure purchasing activities are properly prioritized and distributed based on operational requirements.
• Support the development of team capability in procurement, supplier management, and commercial negotiation.
• For Manager-level positions, lead the procurement function, establish procurement priorities and strategies, manage supplier relationships, review procurement performance, and ensure procurement supports the company’s barging and shipping operations.

Qualification :

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Management, Engineering, Logistics, or a related field.
• Relevant experience in procurement, purchasing, sourcing, or supply chain, preferably within shipping, barging, marine, mining, logistics, or other operational industries.
• Experience level may vary according to the position level, from operational purchasing experience for Officer-level roles to broader procurement management and leadership experience for Manager-level roles.
• Experience handling vessel spare parts, marine equipment, technical materials, maintenance requirements, or operational supplies is an advantage.
• Good understanding of supplier management, commercial negotiation, purchasing processes, and procurement documentation.
• Experience supporting urgent or time-sensitive operational requirements is preferred.

Skills :

• Strong purchasing, sourcing, and supplier management skills.
• Good understanding of marine, vessel, maintenance, and operational procurement.
• Strong negotiation and commercial awareness.
• Good analytical and price comparison skills.
• Strong coordination and stakeholder management.
• Good planning, organization, and follow-up skills.
• Ability to manage urgent requirements and changing operational priorities.
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Cost-conscious and detail-oriented.
• Good understanding of procurement risk and supplier performance.
• Good reporting and data analysis skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Good command of English, both written and verbal.