Procurement Specialist

Cochlear's mission is to help people hear and be heard. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear is dedicated to helping people with moderate to profound hearing loss experience a life full of hearing. We aim to give people the best lifelong hearing experience and access to innovative future technologies. We collaborate with the industry's best clinical, research and support networks. That's why more people choose Cochlear than any other hearing implant company. Learn and grow with us as we tackle the most complex challenges in helping more people to hear and experience life's opportunities.

The Opportunity

Join Cochlear as Procurement Specialist - Engineering Services (KL), where you will play a pivotal role in supporting new product development, engineering projects and ongoing operational needs. In this role, you will partner closely with engineering and cross-functional teams to source high-quality goods and services, manage strategic suppliers, and drive value through efficient procurement strategies.

You will be part of a global team undergoing transformation, offering exposure to complex stakeholder engagement, opportunities to influence procurement practices and involvement in high-impact projects that shape Cochlear's future.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management

2. Conduct market analysis and strategic sourcing to identify suppliers that meet engineering and project requirements

3. Lead contract negotiations to secure competitive pricing and favourable commercial terms
4. Source and evaluate suppliers for engineering equipment, services, and project needs.
5. Negotiate contracts, manage vendor performance and drive continuous improvement.

6. Identify supplier risks and lead mitigation and development initiatives.

7. Project Support & Stakeholder Engagement

8. Collaborate with engineering and project teams to meet technical and timeline requirements.

9. Ensure timely delivery of materials and services to support project milestones.

10. Track and report project procurement status, risks, spend and savings opportunities.

11. Partnering & Procurement Processes

12. Influence internal teams to adopt procurement best practices and systems.

13. Provide commercial and contract advice to stakeholders.

14. Improve procurement processes and strengthen cross-functional collaboration.

15. Technology Integration & Continuous Improvement

16. Use e-procurement / ERP tools (SAP/Oracle) to optimise procurement efficiency.

17. Identify opportunities for automation, digitization and workflow improvements.
18. Coordinate major automation projects and oversee their successful implementation across procurement processes.
19. Champion innovation and knowledge-sharing within the procurement function.

Position-Specific Skills and Challenges

• Ability to interpret technical engineering specifications and translate them into procurement requirements.
• Strong negotiation and analytical skills to evaluate supplier capabilities, quotations, and commercial proposals.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, engineering-focused or high-tech manufacturing environment.
• Ability to balance operational needs with long-term strategic sourcing goals.
• Managing complex stakeholder relationships across multiple regions and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Navigating procurement challenges such as supplier risks, capacity constraints, and quality/regulatory expectations (especially in a medical device environment).
• Quickly adopting new tools, systems, and processes in a dynamic transformation agenda.

Qualifications & Experience

• Demonstrated procurement experience, preferably in technical or engineering categories.
• Experience using ERP or procurement software systems.
• Strong supplier management skills with proven negotiation capability.
• Ability to manage commercial discussions and represent the organisation professionally.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive stakeholder relationships including remote stakeholders across multiple regions.
• Organised, detail-oriented and capable of resolving daily operational challenges independently or collaboratively.
• Proficiency in the relevant language(s) used at the Cochlear site.

Ideal Requirements

• Degree in Electrical & Electronics, Mechanical, or Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field from a recognized university
• Minimum 5 years' experience in engineering procurement & services.
• Experience in high-tech or engineering-focused manufacturing environments; medical device exposure advantageous.
• Strong contract negotiation skills and ability to interpret technical specifications for sourcing.
• Proficiency with SAP/Oracle ERP systems and Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of engineering principles, advanced sourcing methodologies, and Lean/continuous improvement tools.
• Familiarity with ISO standards, quality systems, and regulatory requirements (especially for medical devices).
• Manufacturing background and experience supporting global or complex stakeholder environments including managing remote stakeholders effectively across multiple regions.

Cochlear Summary

Cochlear Malaysia provides shared services to support Cochlear's global operations. The growing team of professionals in Malaysia provides critical support in areas such as IT infrastructure and applications, development and testing, business intelligence development and support, procurement, customer service, service and repairs and returned device analysis engineering.

If you feel that you have the skills and experience to be successful in this role and take on new challenges to build your career with Cochlear, please start your application by clicking the apply below.