KD Management Expert – International Automotive Markets
Company Introduction
Job Description
Job Description: KD Management Expert – International Automotive Markets
About the Client
Our client is a renowned Indian conglomerate with a strong presence across multiple sectors, including steel, coatings, infrastructure, and consumer sports. With a legacy of excellence and market leadership in its existing domains, the group is now venturing into the automotive industry. Leveraging China’s advanced production capabilities and technological expertise, it plans to import auto components to India, assemble them locally, and launch vehicles in the Indian market. This role will be instrumental in building and optimizing the supply chain to support this strategic expansion.
Position Summary
We are seeking a seasoned and strategic KD (Knock-Down) Management Expert to lead and optimize the end-to-end technology operations for semi/fully knocked-down vehicle kits across global markets, especially improvement in supply chain. This critical role ensures seamless coordination between technology partners in China, suppliers, and local assembly locations — beginning with India and expanding to other key regions.
The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in KD operations, logistics planning, supplier coordination, and regulatory alignment with leading global Chinese OEMs (e.g., BYD, Geely, SAIC, GWM, NIO, XPeng). You will play a pivotal role in ensuring on-time delivery, cost efficiency, compliance, and integration of supply chain processes with homologation, manufacturing, and market-entry strategies.
Key Responsibilities
• KD Strategy: Design, implement, and manage comprehensive KD logistics strategies for target markets, optimizing cost, speed, and flexibility.
• Supplier Coordination: Interface with Tier 1 & Tier 2 suppliers in China and internationally to ensure timely production and packaging of KD kits in compliance with local requirements.
• Inbound & Outbound Logistics: Manage end-to-end movement of goods including containerization, shipment scheduling, customs clearance, and inland transport to destination manufacturing plants.
• Localization Planning: Identify localization opportunities (based on market regulations or cost advantages) and develop phased strategies to shift sourcing or assembly.
• Inventory Control & Forecasting: Develop demand planning, inventory tracking, and warehouse management systems that align with production forecasts and order cycles.
• Documentation & Compliance: Ensure all import/export documentation, packaging guidelines, and product labeling meet destination market regulations.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Work closely with homologation, manufacturing, procurement, and finance teams to ensure synchronized delivery and planning.
• Cost Optimization: Drive initiatives to improve operational efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and minimize supply disruptions or delays.
• Risk Management: Identify potential supply chain risks and develop mitigation plans including alternate sourcing, buffer strategies, and contingency routing.
Skills & Competencies
• Language: Full professional fluency in English is mandatory. Proficiency in Mandarin is highly preferred.
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple cross-border logistics streams in parallel.
• Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Proven ability to manage international supplier relationships and bridge cultural/operational gaps.
• Analytical Thinking: Data-driven decision-making approach with strong capabilities in forecasting, cost analysis, and logistics modeling.
• Resilience & Agility: Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment with tight timelines and frequent changes.
Job Requirements
Required Qualifications & Experience
• Education: Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations, or Engineering.
• Experience: 10–15 years of dedicated experience managing KD or CKD supply chains, preferably within automotive or mobility sectors.
• Chinese OEM Expertise: Direct experience coordinating supply operations with or within a major Chinese automotive OEM (e.g., BYD, SAIC, Great Wall Motors, etc.) is essential.
• Export Market Knowledge: Proven track record in managing supply chains for vehicle exports, especially in markets like India, ASEAN, GCC, or Africa.
• ERP & SCM Systems: Experience working with leading ERP platforms (e.g., SAP) and SCM systems.
What you need do
Please email your CV to SunnyHF.Wang@hays.cn with Title: Position + Name + Salary
Sunny HF Wang
Business Manager