Senior Commodity Buyer - Volvo-Isuzu Alliance
Minato-ku, Tokyo, JP, 106-0032
Transport is at the core of modern society. Imagine using your expertise to shape sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions for the future? If you seek to make a difference on a global scale, working with next-gen technologies and the sharpest collaborative teams, then we could be a perfect match.
This is us
Change is inevitable and in today’s context, where we see the change around us at an even faster pace, the future belongs to those who are empowered by great ideas. To be relevant, influential, and successful today, partnership is the new leadership needs to be the approach.
Do you want to be part of this journey to achieve and exceed our joint goals in the transportation industry? Do you love challenges, high pace and working in a truly global context? Do you thrive on leading change through collaborative cross functional teams with individuals who are proud of our products and customer success? Then we think this may be the job for you!
In April 2021, Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors formed a strategic alliance with the goal of becoming the largest and most competitive commercial vehicle alliance in the world. This long-term worldwide cooperation is based on a "win-win" approach, with each party leveraging its strengths in specific products, technology, and markets to maximize value and benefits. In this strategic alliance, Purchasing has a key role in identifying and executing synergy, initiatives and projects that harvest on the alliance strengths.
We are now strengthening the Purchasing set-up by recruiting a Senior Commodity Buyer. The mission is to be the interface between Buyers from each company supporting the project activities for all Alliance components. You will also be the day-to-day interface from Volvo Group Trucks Purchasing to Isuzu Motors/UD Trucks Purchasing as well as to other Volvo Group stakeholders to deliver the project in an efficient and compliant manner.
Main Responsibilities
- Develop, negotiate, and implement strategies resulting in improved Alliance activities performance, enhanced product quality, innovative technology and maximum value.
- Monitor, identify and mitigate risks in the sourcing and project phase in cooperation with your cross-functional project team and Alliance members.
- Be the interface in between Volvo Buyer and Isuzu Motors/UD Trucks Buyer organizations.
- Be the first point of escalation for Buyers in case of any issues related to commercial and compliance topics.
- Be an active member in the global network of Volvo Buyers.
- Support Buyers to manage and negotiate product/ engineering changes during the design phase and implementation phase.
- Actively participate in all projects related discussions with Volvo Group Trucks Technology along with the Buyers and Project Managers when comes to change management in the project.
- Support Buyers to manage Isuzu Motors/UD Trucks scope in their portfolio that are currently in serial production.
- Manage complete overview of tooling shared with Isuzu Motors/UD Trucks.
- Mobilize and address relevant Volvo Group Trucks Purchasing resources and resolve cross company functional/ operational issues to support Isuzu Motors/UD Trucks project activities.
- Support to frame the purchasing process and way of working on the Alliance scope.
- Gather and share feedback from the Isuzu Motors/UD Trucks organization to key/ relevant stakeholders within Volvo to enhance operational proccesses and drive continuous improvement.
- Communicate with Volvo cross-functional team (Purchasing, Technology and Operations) in an early stage to build and deploy the agreed plans.
- Secure compliance according to the policies and guidelines.
Competence & Experience
We are looking for a person with a results-oriented mindset that puts an emphasis on collaboration and relationship building with both our internal and external partners, which will help you to take on challenging work assignments in a successful way. We have a strong emphasis on continuous improvement and best practice sharing, in order to improve the way we approach our daily activities.
We are looking for someone with:
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business or related field, or equivalent working experience.
- Preferred 5+ years of Purchasing experience.
- Strong project management skills with an organized and agile approach to work.
- Good knowledge and practice of Purchasing and Technology main processes.
- Preferably a good network in Truck Divisions (Purchasing, Technology and Operations) to facilitate smooth and swift communication within the company.
- Experience of working in diverse areas/organizations which has given you a strong intercultural understanding and ability to execute in a global, multi-dimensional and multi-cultural organization.
- Strong skills in navigating ambiguity.
- Developed interpersonal skills.
- Good English communication skills, both verbal and in writing.
Ready for the next move?
Are you excited to bring your skills and disruptive ideas to the table? We look forward to receiving your application!
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Who we are and what we believe in
We are committed to shaping the future landscape of efficient, safe, and sustainable transport solutions. Fulfilling our mission creates countless career opportunities for talents across the group’s leading brands and entities.
Applying to this job offers you the opportunity to join Volvo Group. Every day, you will be working with some of the sharpest and most creative brains in our field to be able to leave our society in better shape for the next generation. We are passionate about what we do, and we thrive on teamwork. We are almost 100,000 people united around the world by a culture of care, inclusiveness, and empowerment.
“Volvo Group Purchasing is a team of changemakers that thrive in a fast-paced and exciting business environment. We are a truly global team with passion for innovation, sustainability, people, and where lifelong learning is an essential part of our culture. With our ecosystem of supply partners, we shape the world we want to live in and deliver value to customers, society, and the Volvo Group”.