Sourcing Manager MRO APAC at Intuitive in Penang

Job description

Primary Function of Position The Strategic Sourcing Manager MRO (reporting to Director Sourcing, APAC) will lead sourcing initiatives for indirect spend categories related to maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) as well aspects of research and development, to ensure Intuitive Surgical (Intuitive) secures services and products at optimal value. This role plays a pivotal part in driving innovation by supporting our internal teams. Key spend categories include R&D lab equipment, consumables, safety equipment and supplies (PPE), and preventative maintenance and calibration services. The individual will work closely with Intuitive's engineering teams, operations, and supplier quality departments. This role will additionally support other indirect procurement spend categories such as facilities, real estate, construction, utilities, workplace services, professional services, and warehousing, storage, and logistics services. The precise split of these categories across the APAC indirect procurement team may be refined as the team structure evolves. As this role will serve as a greenfield position at a facility under construction, it requires a candidate with experience establishing procurement operations from the ground up — including standing up supplier relationships, building category baselines, and supporting site readiness activities ahead of and during facility launch. Given Intuitive's standing as a regulated medical device company, the candidate must be comfortable navigating compliance requirements that intersect with MRO procurement — including calibration standards, PPE/safety regulations, and documentation practices aligned with quality and regulatory expectations. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to conduct comprehensive supplier and category/market research, including market index analysis, data analysis, baseline development, RFP development, bid management, contract negotiations, offer analysis, and category strategy development. This role also involves post-bid management activities, such as contract and business reviews, spend analysis, and supplier management. Additionally, the candidate will manage multiple projects concurrently and support ad-hoc project requests. 1. Supplier Relationship Management: Build and sustain strong supplier partnerships to promote collaboration, trust, and mutual success. Act as the main liaison for suppliers concerning performance and strategic initiatives. Regularly review supplier performance, evaluate capabilities, and implement plans to boost performance and reliability. Set global standards to evaluate supplier performance and minimize business risks. For the greenfield site: proactively identify, qualify, and onboard new suppliers in the APAC region ahead of facility launch, establishing relationships where no incumbent base exists. 2. Strategic Sourcing: Independently manage the RFx or strategic sourcing process for complex projects, from initiation to completion. Analyze spending patterns and conduct market and supplier assessments to uncover cost-saving and innovation opportunities. Lead cross-functional teams to develop category strategies aligned with business goals and market trends. Optimize buying channels and create strategies for assigned spend categories, considering Procure to Pay (P2P) requirements. Provide comprehensive financial analysis for bid comparisons and alternative proposals. Support greenfield site readiness by executing sourcing activities on accelerated timelines, coordinating with facilities, operations, and engineering to meet site launch milestones. 3.Sourcing Operations & Pipeline Management: Manage sourcing intake by receiving, evaluating, and triaging stakeholder requests across the APAC site. Prioritize sourcing requests based on business urgency, spend impact, and strategic alignment, operating within the Indirect Procurement governance model. Maintain visibility of the sourcing pipeline — tracking active projects, upcoming RFx a