Procurement Specialist Japan (hybrid)

PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST (Hybrid)

With one shared mission of opening the world through education, EF is a multicultural and multilingual community of team members working across 55 countries all around the world. Bring your talents, your perspective, and your ambition. In return, we offer a vibrant, dynamic working environment, and a fulfilling international career.

EF Educational Tours makes it possible for thousands of North American students every year to see the world and discover new cultures through our professionally guided tours.

The role:

We are now looking for an entrepreneurial negotiator with a nothing is impossible attitude to join our Procurement team in our dynamic and multi-national Ops team in Tokyo.

As a part of the Procurement team, your responsibility will be procuring cost-effective and qualitative services and solutions for hotel, transportation and meals - all while keeping our customer’s experience at the forefront.

What you will do:

Procurement, Negotiation & Contracting – leading negotiations of pricing and commercial terms for the assigned categories, geographies, and suppliers, while also scouting the market for potential new suppliers

Cost and Quality Management – meeting cost and process efficiency targets by giving EF access to favorable pricing and conditions whilst maintaining a high standard of quality and customer satisfaction

Inventory Management – analyze, procure, and process adequate inventory levels to meet forecasted demand

Strategy & Execution– actively participating in setting and delivering on mid to long term strategic direction and supplier segmentation for the area of responsibility

Category Management – implementation of a category management approach, continuous expansion of know-how for the assigned categories and geographical regions

Supplier Relationship Management – manage relationships with current and potential supply base through the implementation of a SRM approach

Risk and Safety Management – proactively manage and monitor potential risk exposure and safety concerns

Budget and Cash Flow Management – continuously monitor, project, and deliver on costs according to a set plan, while also participating in the budget processes as part of the EF budget cycles

Technology – contribute to the development of technology solutions and the continuous improvement of current tools and processes

Market Knowledge, Trends and Innovation – being on the forefront of the supply market by consistently networking and researching within the industry, as well as gaining market insight into evolving trends in spend categories and geographies with a focus on bringing innovation to EF

Travelling is required for up to 40% of the time depending on the season, in order to be on the road learning the market, cultivating relationship with suppliers, and securing business agreements

Objectives for this role:

Analyse, procure, and process adequate inventory levels to meet forecasted demand, all while monitoring, projecting, and delivering on costs according to a set a plan

Articulate and execute on a multi-year procurement strategy by applying supplier segmentation for the area of responsibility internally, and externally define EF’s value proposition to suppliers.

Manage supplier relationships and lead negotiations of pricing and commercial terms for assigned categories, geographies, and suppliers, all while meeting cost, quality, safety, and process efficiency requirements.

You:

Strong communication, negotiation skills and cultural awareness

Strategic mindset whilst actively engaged to run day-to-day priorities

Strong and proven analytical skills

Agile and open-minded team player, with a solution oriented, innovative, and driven mentality

Entrepreneurial spirit and sense of ownership

Relationship builder and networker

Comfortable in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

1-3 years’ experience in procurement, Hospitality, or Tourism preferred

Interest and network in these fields is a bonus

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, preferably in business, economics, or tourism

Fluent in Japanese and English

WHY YOU WILL LOVE WORKING WITH US

People at EF make things happen. We encourage you to take full ownership of your work, regardless of your level or experience. EF team members often say we operate like the world’s largest startup because this boundless entrepreneurial spirit is built into our organization’s DNA.

About EF Education First

If you ask anyone at EF what they like most about their work, you will usually hear the same answer: the people. Visit any of our offices or schools, and you’ll find the same welcoming, energizing, and fun atmosphere — because our people are the heart of everything we do. We support one another, cheer each other on when we win, and learn together when we fail.

At EF we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we have helped millions of people see new places, experience new cultures, and learn new things about the world and about themselves. Our culturally immersive education programs—focused on language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics—turn dreams into international opportunities.

When you join EF, you join a multicultural and diverse community working across more than 600 schools and offices in 50 countries, all with one shared mission of opening the world through education. Whoever you are, whatever you are passionate about—we welcome you and want you to bring that to work every day. EF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, caste, parental status, identity, experience and everything else that makes you unique.

Founded in Sweden in 1965, EF has schools and offices around the world, including hubs in Boston, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, Shanghai, Stockholm, Zürich, and more. Learn more at