Procurement / Purchasing Manager

Job Description

KALIAMMAN FLOWERS & TRADING is a premier importer and wholesaler of specialised fresh flowers and custom ritual garlands in Singapore. We are seeking an experienced, high-calibre Supply Chain & Procurement Manager to oversee our complex international supply pipeline, logistics network, and wholesale distribution infrastructure.

The successful candidate will be directly responsible for managing end-to-end cross-border operations, specialising in the rapid procurement and climate-controlled transit of highly perishable botanical goods originating from South Asia (specifically India) to Singapore. This role is crucial to maintaining product freshness, maximising shelf-life, and minimising cargo spoilage across our distribution network.

Key Responsibilities

• International Sourcing & Vendor Management: Establish, nurture, and directly negotiate trade contracts with commercial flower growers, agricultural cooperatives, and exporters across major cultivation hubs in India to secure stable seasonal volumes and premium product quality.

• Cold-Chain Logistics Management: Oversee end-to-end international air cargo routing, customs clearance documentation, and localised cold-chain storage management to ensure perishable floral shipments reach Singapore within strict time windows.

• Spoilage Control & Quality Assurance: Implement rigorous cargo-tracking and storage protocols to actively monitor temperature-controlled environments, driving targeted reductions in transit spoilage and logistics waste.

• Key Account Procurement Coordination: Direct wholesale fulfilment strategies and demand-forecasting models to guarantee reliable, uninterrupted delivery schedules for major institutional accounts, including the Hindu Endowments Board, prominent temples, and large-scale event organisers.

• Financial & Inventory Optimisation: Manage procurement budgeting, monitor foreign exchange fluctuations related to international trade payments, and maintain optimal inventory turnovers to align with company working capital targets.

Job Requirements

• Education & Academic Background: Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent professional qualification in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, International Trade, Business Administration, or a closely related field.

• Industry Experience: Minimum of 2 to 5 years of proven, hands-on experience in international procurement and sales logistics within the fast-moving perishable consumer goods (FMCG) or agricultural/wholesale floral sector.

• Niche Market Domain Knowledge: Documented track record working directly with South Asian agricultural supply chains and trade networks, with specific, deep technical knowledge of fresh flower varieties, delicate transport requirements, and traditional garland production specifications.

• Language Proficiency & Technical Liaison: High fluency in English and native or professional-grade proficiency in Tamil. This is a mandatory operational requirement: the candidate must negotiate directly with local farmers, exporters, and logistics agents in rural India, and translate custom requirements for traditional wholesale institutional buyers.

• Analytical & Crisis Skills: Exceptional problem-solving and rapid-response capabilities to manage volatile transit variables, air freight delays, customs clearances, and sudden supply shortfalls inherent to the fresh produce trade.