Meet Junyi Lu (JJ), Procurement Specialist at SKYCITY Auckland. He’s been with SKYCITY for almost nine years, beginning his career with us as a Commis Chef!
Throughout the years, JJ has successfully progressed his career within SKYCITY and his Chef background helps in his current role in procurement as he's able to influence different stakeholders with his knowledge. Keep on reading to find out more about him.
What’s your current role at SKYCITY?
Procurement Specialist
What other roles have you held at SKYCITY?
From 2008 I’ve held the previous positions:
- National Procurement Coordinator F&B
- Purchasing Coordinator
- Business Analyst
- System Analyst
- Food System Executive
- Chef De Partie(Cold Larder, Orbit, Pastry)
- Demi chef De Partie (Hot Prep)
- Commis Chef (Pastry)
How long have you worked at SKYCITY?
I’ve been working at SKYCITY for almost nine years.
Briefly describe your current role
As the Procurement Specialist I’m responsible for:
- Managing the food category across SKYCITY
- Managing internal and external stake holders
- Contracting large food suppliers across SKYCITY
- Setting KPIs with key suppliers
- Continuously improving how procurement can deliver hard and soft benefits to the business
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
I enjoy working with internal and external stake holders and the challenges from the different food outlets that SKYCITY can offer. I get satisfaction from being involved in the end to end procurement process to deliver on exciting food initiatives.
I enjoy working with internal and external stakeholders and the challenges from different food outlets that SKYCITY can offer. I get satisfaction from being involved in the end to end procurement process to deliver one exciting food initiatives.
What sorts of challenges do you encounter?
- Maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stake holders.
- Managing price fluctuations to deliver the best commercial outcome to the food outlets.
- Receiving a difficult brief and bringing it to life under tight timelines to deliver the best business outcome for SKYCITY outlets.
What did you do before you joined SKYCITY?
I worked as a Chef in cafes and restaurants and also studied in NZ.
What do you enjoy about working at SKYCITY?
There are a variety of projects that the Procurement get involved across. No two days are the same. I enjoy communicating with internal and external stake holders. I also enjoy being able to influence different stakeholders due to my chef background and knowledge of purchasing, systems and procurement.
What would you say to anyone considering joining your team or applying for a job like yours?
You’ll require the right attitude to be able to work across a diverse mix of stake holders. You need to be able to work cross functionally at short notice. You need to have a passion of what you do.
You’ll also need to have an understanding that the day to day decisions being made can have a large impact on the staff across the SKYCITY business.
Which of SKYCITY’s employee benefits do you enjoy most?
Working in Auckland CBD and having reduced parking fees with great staff dining facilities (24/7) along with Southern Cross medical insurance. Working in a large business with a strong culture is very rewarding. To be able to develop a career within one business is a great opportunity to personally grow as an individual.
Is there anything about SKYCITY that makes it different to other work places?
With the variety of two hotels, a casino, a convention centre, and twenty-two food outlets makes SKYCITY Auckland a very unique and fun place to work. The team at SKYCITY supports each other, and it’s like working in a large village.
Where were you born/raised and how long have you lived in Auckland?
I was born and grew up in Shanghai, China. I came to New Zealand in 2003 as a language student with limited English skills.
Working across the different departments of SKYCITY has enabled me to develop my spoken and written English to a high level which has assisted my career development at SKYCITY.
What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
- Basketball
- Swimming
- Interactive war games
- Listening to music
If JJ's story has inspired you and you would like to pursue a career at SKYCITY, visit our careers website here!
