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Regional Sourcing Manager, East South Asia - Job Opportunity at CSA Group

Singapore, SG
Full-time
Senior
Posted: July 29, 2025
On-site
USD 85,000 - 120,000 per year. This estimate reflects the senior-level nature of the role managing five major Asian markets, the requirement for multilingual capabilities, and Singapore's competitive compensation landscape for procurement leadership positions. The upper range accounts for the specialized nature of TIC industry procurement and the extensive regional responsibility spanning developed markets like Japan and Korea.

Benefits

Global organization exposure with operations across 30+ labs and offices in Europe, Asia and North America providing extensive international networking opportunities
Mission-driven work environment focused on making the world safer and more sustainable through standards development and product certification
Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology certification processes from household items to leading-edge innovations
Equal opportunity employer commitment with strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
Accommodation support provided during interview process demonstrating employee-centric policies

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic sourcing transformation across five major Asian markets (Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand) using industry-standard seven-step procurement methodology to drive organizational buying intelligence
Execute comprehensive procurement operations including goods and services acquisition with full ownership of competitive bid evaluation processes from simple RFIs to complex multi-stakeholder RFPs
Develop and negotiate complex Scopes of Work by synthesizing client requirements, supplier capabilities, and CSA contractual parameters to optimize value delivery
Collaborate with legal teams to implement risk mitigation strategies while managing high-volume, medium to high complexity procurement requirements and demanding stakeholder relationships
Establish and manage foundational supplier agreements for new vendors while leading cost structure analysis and price negotiations to maximize organizational savings
Generate and analyze procurement intelligence through periodic and ad-hoc reporting from enterprise systems (SAP, Concur) to support data-driven decision making
Drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned with strategic sourcing objectives while effectively coordinating multi-party communications between clients, procurement, and suppliers
Negotiate and close procurement deals by developing compelling value propositions that demonstrate measurable financial savings and business impact
Provide strategic leadership in supplier relationship management ensuring alignment with organizational sourcing strategies and performance optimization
Execute comprehensive category management including global market analysis, inventory turnover optimization, and ROI assessment to deliver competitive advantage
Lead quarterly business reviews with core vendors while managing the transformation of CSA's global procurement organization
Collaborate with leadership on due diligence activities to define future category management taxonomy while engaging in multi-category sourcing projects

Requirements

Education

Bachelor of Commerce/Business Degree and or Master's Degree in Business Management

Experience

Minimum 7 - 10 years business experience in vendor management, Strategic sourcing, procurement, process management

Required Skills

Proven experience in performing and evaluating source solicitations including RFQ/RFP/RFI Proven experience in developing Scopes of Work (SOW) from the beginning by understanding the client's requirements, supplier's limitations and CSA's contractual limitations Proven experience in negotiating commercial terms in a supplier contract Ability to develop fresh approaches, innovate and adapt Superior interpersonal, relationship building, negotiating, communication and presentation skills Excellent time management skills English and Mandarin: Fluent and Bilingualism Mandarin: Fluent and Bilingualism an asset Japanese: Fluent and Bilingualism an asset Korean: Fluent and Bilingualism an asset

Certifications

SCMP (Supply Chain Management Professional) Designation is an asset
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) industry is experiencing significant growth driven by increasing regulatory compliance requirements across Asia-Pacific markets, particularly in consumer electronics, automotive, and renewable energy sectors. This creates elevated demand for sophisticated procurement professionals who can navigate complex multi-country regulatory landscapes while managing diverse supplier ecosystems. Digital transformation in procurement is accelerating across the Asia-Pacific region, with organizations investing heavily in AI-powered sourcing platforms, blockchain supply chain verification, and advanced analytics capabilities. Regional sourcing managers are increasingly expected to leverage these technologies while maintaining the cultural sensitivity required for successful vendor relationships across diverse Asian markets. Sustainability and ESG compliance have become critical procurement considerations, especially for certification bodies operating in environmentally conscious markets like Japan and Singapore. This trend is driving demand for sourcing professionals who can evaluate suppliers based on environmental impact, social responsibility metrics, and governance standards while maintaining cost efficiency. Supply chain regionalization and nearshoring strategies are reshaping procurement approaches across East and Southeast Asia, as companies seek to reduce dependency on single-country sourcing and build more resilient supplier networks. This creates opportunities for regional sourcing managers who can develop sophisticated multi-country sourcing strategies.

Role Significance

Typically manages a matrix team of 8-15 professionals including local procurement specialists, category managers, and vendor relationship coordinators across multiple countries, while collaborating closely with legal, finance, and operational stakeholders. The role likely involves indirect management of regional procurement budgets exceeding $50 million annually.
This is a senior-level strategic role with significant regional authority, evidenced by responsibility for five major Asian markets, complex contract negotiations, supplier relationship management, and organizational transformation initiatives. The position requires extensive independent decision-making and represents CSA Group's procurement interests across diverse cultural and regulatory environments.

Key Projects

Implementation of comprehensive supplier diversity programs across Asian markets to ensure resilient supply chains while meeting local regulatory requirements and cultural expectations in each target country Development and execution of category consolidation strategies that leverage CSA Group's global purchasing power while maintaining the flexibility required for region-specific testing and certification requirements Leading digital procurement transformation initiatives including implementation of e-sourcing platforms, supplier portals, and advanced analytics capabilities tailored to Asian business practices and relationship-building expectations

Success Factors

Deep cultural intelligence and relationship-building capabilities essential for navigating the relationship-centric business environments prevalent across Asian markets, where long-term partnerships and trust are fundamental to successful procurement outcomes Advanced negotiation skills combining Western commercial practices with Asian business etiquette, enabling effective cost management while maintaining the collaborative supplier relationships critical for quality assurance and certification services Strategic thinking ability to balance global procurement standardization with regional customization requirements, ensuring compliance with diverse regulatory frameworks while achieving corporate cost and quality objectives Change management expertise to lead organizational transformation initiatives across culturally diverse teams while implementing best practices that respect local business customs and relationship dynamics

Market Demand

High demand driven by Asia-Pacific's position as a global manufacturing hub requiring sophisticated quality assurance and certification services, combined with the scarcity of procurement professionals with both regional expertise and multilingual capabilities essential for managing diverse Asian supplier relationships.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Strategic sourcing methodology expertise is fundamental as the role requires implementation of sophisticated seven-step procurement processes across diverse markets while managing complex stakeholder requirements and delivering measurable cost savings and risk mitigation outcomes Cultural intelligence and relationship management capabilities are essential for success in Asian markets where business relationships are foundational to procurement success, requiring deep understanding of local customs, communication styles, and decision-making processes across multiple countries Advanced negotiation and contract management skills are critical given the role's responsibility for complex commercial agreements, risk mitigation, and value proposition development that directly impact organizational profitability and operational efficiency Multilingual communication abilities, particularly English and Mandarin fluency, are vital for effective supplier engagement, stakeholder management, and market intelligence gathering across the diverse linguistic landscape of East and Southeast Asia

Beneficial Skills

Digital procurement technology proficiency including experience with AI-powered sourcing platforms, advanced analytics, and blockchain supply chain solutions that are increasingly important for competitive advantage in modern procurement operations Industry-specific knowledge of technical standards, certification processes, and regulatory compliance requirements that enhance credibility with internal stakeholders and external suppliers in the specialized TIC market environment Financial analysis and business intelligence capabilities that enable sophisticated total cost of ownership modeling, supplier financial health assessment, and procurement ROI measurement critical for strategic decision-making Project management and change leadership skills that support successful implementation of transformation initiatives while managing the cultural sensitivity required for organizational change across diverse Asian business environments

Unique Aspects

This role offers exceptional exposure to the specialized TIC industry, providing deep expertise in quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and standards development that is highly valued across multiple sectors including automotive, electronics, energy, and consumer products
The position provides rare opportunity to develop comprehensive Asian market expertise across five distinct economies with different regulatory frameworks, business cultures, and supplier ecosystems, creating significant competitive advantage for future career advancement
The role combines strategic procurement leadership with organizational transformation responsibilities, offering experience in change management, digital implementation, and process optimization that extends well beyond traditional sourcing functions
Multilingual requirements and cultural diversity of the region provide unique professional development in international business management, cross-cultural communication, and global relationship building that is increasingly valuable in today's interconnected business environment

Career Growth

Career advancement to executive levels typically occurs within 3-5 years for high-performing regional sourcing managers, particularly those who successfully deliver measurable cost savings, implement digital transformation initiatives, and demonstrate leadership in organizational change management across diverse cultural environments.

Potential Next Roles

Global Head of Procurement or Chief Procurement Officer positions within multinational corporations, leveraging the comprehensive regional experience and transformation leadership demonstrated in this role Regional Operations Director or Asia-Pacific General Manager roles, utilizing the cross-functional stakeholder management and P&L impact experience gained through strategic procurement leadership Consulting Partner positions with major procurement consulting firms, capitalizing on the specialized expertise in Asian market dynamics and TIC industry knowledge

Company Overview

CSA Group

CSA Group represents a well-established player in the global testing, inspection, and certification industry with nearly 100 years of operational history and a strong foundation in standards development. The organization operates as a trusted intermediary between manufacturers and regulators, providing critical quality assurance services that enable product safety and market access across multiple industries and geographic regions.

CSA Group maintains a solid competitive position in the TIC industry with particular strength in North American markets and expanding presence across Asia-Pacific regions. The company's extensive portfolio of over 3,500 standards and codes provides competitive differentiation, while its global network of 30+ facilities enables comprehensive service delivery across diverse regulatory environments.
The organization is strategically investing in Asian market expansion, recognizing the region's critical importance as a global manufacturing hub and growing consumer market. This regional sourcing manager role represents a key component of CSA Group's localization strategy, aimed at building deeper supplier relationships and operational efficiency across East and Southeast Asian markets.
CSA Group demonstrates a mission-driven culture focused on societal impact through safety and sustainability advancement, which attracts professionals motivated by meaningful work beyond pure commercial objectives. The organization's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, combined with its global operational scope, suggests a collaborative and inclusive work environment that values different perspectives and cultural insights.
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