Food, machinery or T-shirts: Hapag-Lloyd moves goods around the globe with over 250 container ships. We connect more than 600 ports on all continents and are one of the largest liner shipping companies. More than 13,000 employees work on board, ashore or in one of our 350 offices. Together, we transport around 12 million containers per year. Our corporate values "We care. We move. We deliver" serve as coordinates on our way. They guide our collaboration with each other as colleagues and with our customers to achieve the best possible quality. In the long run, we are committed to climate and environmental protection as well as human rights and many other social issues.

Main Objectives

Reporting to the Senior Director of Regional Operations, you will play a pivotal role in managing and leading a team of four with the primary focus guiding and optimizing procurement activities throughout Region Asia by supporting Areas with regard to procurement related matters within Terminals, Transport, Inland and Feeders in line with Regional / Global guidelines and overarching strategy.

Function and duties

Procurement Strategy and Execution:

  • Coordinate the development, interpretation/implementation of policies, operating procedures, training programs and directives regionally and in conjunction and close collaboration with Global Procurement team.
  • Develop and implement a regional procurement strategy for container feeder shipping services under consideration of high requirements in respect to cost-effectiveness, quality and availability aligned with Hapag-Lloyd’s overarching strategy.
  • Coordinate the development, interpretation/implementation of policies, operating procedures, training programs and directives.
  • Oversee the procurement process from sourcing to contract negotiation, supplier selection, and performance management.
  • Foster strategic partnerships with suppliers, negotiating favorable terms and conditions, and ensuring adherence to service level agreements.
  • Joint strategic planning, coordination and implementation of feeder procurement projects together with area procurement organizations and local experts
  • Stay updated on industry trends, internal and external market conditions, and regulatory changes that may impact feeder procurement strategy development. 

Cross-functional Collaboration:

  • Collaborate closely with key stakeholders in Operations, Commercial, Business Administration, and compliance, to understand procurement needs and develop effective sourcing strategies.
  • Engage in regular communication and relationship-building activities with internal customers to ensure procurement aligns with their requirements and expectations.
  • Methodological and operational support for areas in conducting cost reduction initiatives and feeder tender activities.
  • Foster effective communication channels between procurement and other departments to promote collaboration, problem-solving, and knowledge sharing.
  • Support areas in their tender (terminal, depots, truck, feeders, etc.) and selection of the vendors, guiding for bundling of vendors/volume to bring cost efficiency.

Process Improvement and Compliance:

  • Continuously review and enhance procurement processes, policies, and systems to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risks.
  • Implement and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track procurement performance and identify areas for improvement.
  • Ensure compliance with QEM principals and targets.
  • Coordinate and drive digitalization projects for Procurement. 

Team Leadership and Development:

  • Lead, inspire, and manage a team of four procurement professionals, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Set clear performance objectives, provide ongoing feedback and coaching, and conduct regular performance evaluations.
  • Collaborate with HR to attract top talent, develop succession plans, and provide training and development opportunities for team members.

Qualifications and Technical Job Requirements

  • Degree in Logistics and Supply Chain, Business, Maritime with a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in procurement, with a focus on operations and commercial activities within the container shipping industry.
  • Strong understanding of the container shipping industry, market dynamics, and regulatory frameworks especially in terminal, transport, equipment and M&R functions.
  • Proven track record of driving cost savings, process improvements, and operational efficiencies in procurement.
  • Ability to develop and drive strategic initiatives and business plans.

Business Systems/IT

  • Expert knowledge of HL systems FIS, DAP, MARS, Compass and other applications
  • Expert knowledge of user application systems (MS Office, Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
  • ARIS work process knowledge & systems support optimization
  • Ability to promptly process data and requests under pressure

Success Criteria for Position

  • Demonstrated experience in people management, including team leadership, performance management, and talent development.
  • Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills to collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
  • Proficiency in written and spoken mandarin is a strong advantage to lead and facilitate procurement discussions and agreements with vendors in China.

Contact person

Leonard Leong