Manager - Purchase (Defense)

John Cockerill, enablers of opportunities

Driven since 1817 by the entrepreneurial spirit and thirst for innovation of its founder, the John Cockerill Group develops large-scale technological solutions to meet the needs of its time: facilitating access to low carbon energies, enabling sustainable industrial production, preserving natural resources, contributing to greener mobility, enhancing security and installing essential infrastructures. 

Its offer to businesses, governments and communities consists of services and associated equipment for the sectors of energy, defence, industry, the environment, transports, and infrastructures. With over 6,000 employees, John Cockerill achieved a turnover of € 1,209  billion in 2023 in 29 countries, on 5 continents.

www.johncockerill.com 

Location - Mumbai, India

Context:

John Cockerill Defense develops technologies to support armed forces in their mission to ensure peace and security for populations. Our technologies are organized into three main activities: providing weapon systems and associated services, simulation, and security.

Recent geopolitical events have highlighted the need for governments to bolster their security measures. In response, John Cockerill Defense continues to offer solutions through new equipment and modernization programs. In India the company aims to significantly contribute to “Atmanirbhar programs” in defense, offering a range of products to meet these needs. John Cockerill Defense is in the process to establish joint ventures with Indian partners, positioning itself as a local player dedicated to serving the armed forces. The company will also continue exploring partnership opportunities to enhance its product range and activities.

But our commitment goes beyond just business. We are dedicated to fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing, skill development, and technology transfer that empowers Indian enterprises to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Together, with the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat driving us forward, John Cockerill is poised to be a catalyst for transformation, driving sustainable growth, creating jobs, and fueling prosperity for generations to come.

Job Purpose

To support its growth, John Cockerill Defense, headquartered in Belgium, is opening an office in Mumbai. In order to reinforce its India Execution Center, John Cockerill Defense India Pvt Ltd. is hiring a Senior Buyer.

The Senior Buyer coordinates and steers the purchasing of certain categories. He/she will play an important role in the implementation of the local procurement activities, he will be an important relay between the Head Quarter (HQ) and local activities.

Procurement activities have to contribute to the proper execution of the projects through the optimization of the supply chain with the main objectives of compliance with budgets, respect of deadlines and customer satisfaction (internal & external).

Key Responsibilities

As John-Cockerill Defense is starting its activities in Mumbai (new execution center), the Senior Buyer will integrate a new entity where he/she will be responsible for starting/developing the purchasing activities. Today, there is no Purchasing department, it means the Senior Buyer will have to develop the purchasing activities with the support and guidelines from HQ.

• Establish purchasing strategies for his/her portfolio and deploy them, integrating market and requirement changes.
• The Senior Buyer will have to implement the procedures and tools from the Group considering local specificities and be responsible, in collaboration with the relevant departments, for: managing certain purchase categories, a panel of suppliers i.e:
• Sourcing activities: search for and qualify new suppliers. Know the supplier market, to anticipate changing needs and market evolution, to adapt dynamically the supplier panel (in connection with suppliers’ evaluation).
• Evaluate the performance of suppliers and bring them up to the required standard by implementing and monitoring action and improvement plans.

Manage the operational purchasing process, including.

• Requesting quotations from suppliers, analyzing offers and negotiating the quality, performance and timing of materials, parts, equipment and services at the best total cost.
• Be a leader in the supplier selection process based on a comparison table of offers.
• Negotiate and draft the terms and conditions of the supplier contract / order protecting John Cockerill's interests and in accordance with the contractual conditions of the customer contract and of the John Cockerill’s requirements.
• Support for the indirect purchases: as the activities in Mumbai are starting, the Senior Buyer might also support the Entity from Mumbai, the other departments for their business needs (ie: facilities, etc).
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of purchasing processes/procedures and their interaction with other processes.
• To apply the principles of ethics and sustainable development
• The Senior Buyer will also be responsible for anticipating risks and opportunities in all phases of the purchasing process and influencing the definition of requirements and specifications by providing market information.
• Collaborate with purchasing departments of other JC Businesses/Entities on data sharing, various improvement projects.

Education & Experience

• 10 to 15 years' experience in technical or industrial purchasing
• Master’s degree (Engineering / Supply-Chain / Business / Economics / Law) or Bachelor degree (in similar fields) with relevant experience

Background, Skills and Competencies.

• Fluent in English and possibly other languages (French)
• Familiar with ERP (SAP), Familiar with Office 365 (spreadsheet, graphics, macro) and the usual project management software
• Good communication skills and problem solving oriented.
• Capacity to understand and negotiate purchase contract and associated conditions.
• Familiar with technical negotiations, with sourcing technical products and services
• Familiar with the principles of risk management
• Familiar with international standards (i.e: ISO 9001 requirements). Internal auditor certified is a plus
• Knowledge of the financial solvency ratios of a company
• Familiar with the market in which suppliers operate
• Willing to travel occasionally, particularly for visits to suppliers in India and South-East Asia region.

Equal Opportunity Employer: John Cockerill and all John Cockerill Companies are equal opportunity employers that evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), age, marital status, disability, veteran status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and other characteristics protected by law.

John Cockerill offers you career and development opportunities within its various sectors in a friendly working environment. 
Do you want to work for an innovative company that will allow you to take up technical challenges on a daily basis?
We look forward to receiving your application and to meeting you!

Discover our job opportunities in details on www.johncockerill.com