Purchasing Manager (w/m/d) – Strategic and Operational Procurement

About the role

Birn+Partners, an executive search and leadership advisory firm, is recruiting a purchasing manager (w/m/d) for a well-established, internationally active industrial company with demanding technical products and a high value-added depth. The client is a medium-sized organisation undergoing structural renewal and investing in modernising its production and organisational structures. The role carries overall responsibility for strategic and operational procurement and has direct influence on supply security, cost efficiency and operational performance.

Key responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for strategic and operational procurement, including reliable material supply for production
• Lead and develop the purchasing team, including organisational structures, responsibilities and competences
• Active supplier management, including negotiations, escalation handling and personal support of key suppliers
• Develop sustainable procurement and supplier strategies, including risk minimisation, supply security and second-source concepts
• Identify cost-saving potential and improve contractual terms and framework agreements
• Optimise procurement processes, KPIs and structures together with production, operations, quality and other departments
• Shape the organisational and process development of procurement in line with future company growth

Required profile

• Completed technical or business studies or equivalent qualification
• Several years of professional and leadership experience in procurement of a manufacturing company, preferably mechanical engineering, drive technology, electrical engineering or a comparable technical industry
• Proven ability to lead and develop a purchasing team and to achieve sustainable results
• Strong technical understanding of industrial products, manufacturing processes and complex procurement structures
• Track record of cost optimisation, supplier development, process improvement and handling demanding situations
• Entrepreneurial mindset, strong negotiation and decision-making skills, and hands-on approach

Required skills

• Strategic and operational procurement, supplier management and contract negotiations
• Secure handling of ERP systems and procurement KPIs
• Good English

What we offer

• Independent responsibility for a central business area and a developing team
• Short decision paths within a medium-sized organisation and close cooperation with management
• Active participation in modernising production and organisational structures
• Visible impact on costs, delivery capability and company performance