Strategic Sourcing Manager

In this role you partner with business units and operations to sustain a global Direct Materials Category Model and secure supply at optimal cost. You will lead category strategies for elastomer, rubber and plastics, drive cost and supply base optimization, and interface with BU/Engineering to align sourcing activities with PDP processes. You’ll act as a change agent across a global, cross‑functional team and shape category performance for long‑term business success. This is an opportunity to influence procurement at a multinational scale within a pioneering vacuum solutions company.

• Manage and optimize own material categories (elastomer, rubber, plastics)
• Contribute to global Direct Material & Supply Base Performance (QCD)
• Represent direct material categories within VAT organization
• Achieve cost optimization, supply base optimization, geographic sourcing footprint, and Best Cost Country Sourcing targets
• Provide forward-looking insights on trends, threats, and opportunities in own categories
• Align Direct Materials Category Team with company objectives
• Interface with BU/Engineering for Strategic Sourcing activities and PDP process
• Act as a change agent with main stakeholders
• Develop category sourcing strategies using defined methods and tools
• Maintain active supplier relationship management across global supply base within category perimeter
• Coordinate with category teams in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania

• A further education in Procurement or equivalent; ideally Master’s degree or similar
• 4–8 years of strategic sourcing experience with strong knowledge of global category management for direct materials
• Strong experience in electronic sourcing (EMS suppliers) and components
• Experience with category-specific production techniques and processes
• Experience in a global, complex organization; cross-functional and cross-cultural change management experience
• Strong contract negotiation skills, preferably in global industrial manufacturing
• Experience with Power BI or similar data analytics tools (preferred)
• People and change management skills, stakeholder engagement, cross-functional project leadership, strong analytical abilities, and result orientation
• Fluent in English; German desirable

• Cross-functional collaboration
• Stakeholder engagement
• Analytical mindset
• Power BI or data analytics tools
• Global category management of direct materials
• EMS supplier management and electronics sourcing