Regional Category Buyer

Target:
Regional Category Buyer is responsible for defining and executing sourcing strategies for a specific category in specific regions, aiming to optimize cost, ensure supply reliability, and create value. The role focuses on supplier management, negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration while monitoring market trends and risks to support business objectives.
This level manages regional sourcing activities and supplier portfolios within assigned categories, delivering cost optimization, supplier performance and risk mitigation through execution of category strategies, while ensuring alignment with business objectives, governance standards and continuous improvement initiatives

Main tasks:

Purchasing Strategy & Governance

Adapts and executes global strategy within the region / define regional measures to execute global strategy
Ensures compliance with global governance while considering local market dynamics
Provides regional input into strategy development

Category / Material & Supplier Portfolio Management

Manages regional supplier base
Support onboarding of suppliers aligned with global team
Feeds market intelligence & supplier performance data back to global
Leads supplier selection at regional level (if no global definition existing)

Sourcing & Project Procurement & Project Management

Executes regional sourcing events / RFQs
Supports project based procurement events (on plant or program level)
Ensures on-time delivery for regional projects is escalated by SCM
Manage shortages

Negotiation & Contract Management

Executes local negotiations within defined supplier base
Defines contract frameworks, T&Cs, and pricing models for defined supplier base, region or category
Ensures adherence to global agreements

Processes, Systems & Compliance

Makes sure usage of defined process standards, tools, and system landscape
Ensures compliance with corporate & regulatory requirements
Drives the usage of digital procurement tools (ePos, purchasing suite, etc.)

Cost Management & Continuous Improvement & Change Management

Delivers regional savings targets
Identifies local cost reduction opportunities
Implements continuous improvement measures locally

Risk, Supply & Escalation Management

Monitors regional supply risks and disruptions
Executes mitigation and escalation handling
Acts as first escalation layer

Coordination & Stakeholder Management

Interfaces with local stakeholders (plants, operations, engineering, other stakeholders in the region)
Ensures implementation of global decisions
Provides regional feedback & escalation input

Education/certification:

Bachelor Degree or higher or adequate long term professional experience

Professional experience:

3-5 years of professional experience in Purchasing or other relevant functions

Project and process experience:

proven experience in Purchasing functions and organisational principles; project management experience is a plus

Very good communicative skills & team player
High own initiative and ability to work independently acc. to target settings

Intercultural and international experience:

experienced in international cultures and business environment, worked in international Teams for minimum 3 years