PPA Project Manager

Location: Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur
Company: Nestrade Procurement Division
Full-time, 100% activity rate, permanent role

Position summary

Procurement Performance Acceleration (Project Manager: Analytics and Machine Learning) / specialist in the creation and deployment of world class solutions required to drive the Strategy of the functional stream in the Procurement organization. Lead the implementation of ML/AI solutions that enhance procurement decision-making while ensuring measurable business impact.

Transform procurement decisions with advanced analytics. Lead ML/AI implementations that solve real business problems and deliver measurable impact.

Procurement at Nestlé
As a strategic partner of the business, we help the company to achieve sustainable growth together with responsible sourcing and value creation. Located in three global hubs in Switzerland, Panama and Malaysia, our division provides a range of services, including the management of procurement for raw materials, packaging, indirect materials, and other services. We also support markets with managing local spend. For you, this will be the opportunity to become a real strategic partner – delivering sustainable value and working with the business, for the business.

A day in a life of PPA Project Manager: Analytics and Machine Learning:

Strategic Analytics Implementation:

• Translate complex business requirements into technical specifications for IT delivery teams
• Partner with stakeholders to identify high-value opportunities for ML/AI solutions
• Design and implement solutions that deliver quantifiable business value
• Implement ML models that enhance price forecasting and supplier selection
• Design optimization algorithms that drive better procurement outcomes
• Translate business challenges into technical solutions
• Lead projects from concept to successful deployment

Project Management:

• Lead end-to-end delivery of advanced analytics initiatives
• Manage complex stakeholder landscapes across procurement and IT
• Guide solution design and implementation with technical partners

What Makes This Role Unique

• Direct involvement in transforming how a global procurement function leverages advanced analytics
• Opportunity to shape practical ML/AI applications in procurement and drive the use of state-of-the-art technology
• High visibility role with significant business impact

What makes you successful:

Strong understanding of ML/AI fundamentals with demonstrated experience in one or more:

• Data quality management and enhancement
• Algorithmic solution design and optimization
• Price forecasting and predictive analytics
• Mathematical optimization for business processes
• Financial mathematics models and their applications

Practical experience with:

• Microsoft analytics platforms
• Azure cloud platform and data integration
• Data architecture and master data concepts
• 2-5 years experience leading analytics projects with multiple stakeholder groups
• Experience managing IT delivery teams in analytics implementations
• Outstanding communication skills with both business and technical audiences
• Bachelor's degree in business, economics, engineering, or related quantitative field
• Advanced degree or relevant certifications in data science or machine learning are a plus
• Strategic Thinking with Practical Execution

The ability to see the bigger picture of where analytics can create value, while being pragmatic about implementation steps and stakeholder readiness. Stakeholder Intelligence: Sophisticated ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics, particularly managing relationships with IT partners while building credibility with procurement leaders. Must understand when to push for change and when to build consensus.

• Learning Agility

Interested and capable to quickly grasp new concepts and keep up to date with emerging technologies. Curious by nature.

• Balanced Judgment

The ability to make sound decisions about where to apply sophisticated solutions versus when simpler approaches will suffice. Must balance innovation with practical delivery and stakeholder readiness.

Skill in introducing new capabilities and ways of working while maintaining strong relationships and team engagement. Must be able to drive transformation without creating unnecessary resistance.

If your profile matches our needs, we look forward to receiving your application in English.

At Nestlé, we want to help shape a better and healthier world, inspire people to live healthier lives and deliver impact at a scale and pace that makes a difference. We do this by fostering a diverse, friendly, supportive, and collaborative environment, that creates positive disruption, embraces innovation, and empowers people and teams to win. We aim to hire friendly, respectful, inspiring people who care about the people’s lives that we touch every single day.