Head of Procurement

mylife Diabetes Care; Burgdorf; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

mylife Diabetes Care seeks a Head of Procurement to shape and grow procurement for the company’s next stage of expansion. You will drive strategy, governance and supplier relationships to support product, manufacturing and financial objectives.

You will lead a capable team, negotiate complex terms, manage supply risks and ensure alignment with quality and regulatory requirements across sites and partners.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in procurement strategy, sourcing and supplier management.
• Experience in regulated manufacturing environments (MedTech/pharma) is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to influence decisions across functions and sites without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Set and evolve procurement strategy, priorities and operating model.
• Lead and develop the procurement team and establish a strong governance rhythm.
• Negotiate with suppliers and manage escalations, risks and continuity decisions.
• Build relationships across R&D, Product Management, Quality and Operations.
• Shape supplier portfolio through segmentation, category strategies and negotiations.
• Ensure procurement decisions balance cost, quality, resilience and scalability.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Commercial negotiations

Stakeholder influence

Regulatory/compliance

Change control

English fluency

Regulated manufacturing

Job description

At mylife Diabetes Care, Procurement has a direct impact on our ability to grow, innovate and serve people living with diabetes. As we continue to grow, we are further developing our products, manufacturing activities and partnerships with external manufacturers.

As Head of Procurement, you will shape and further develop Procurement for this next stage of growth. You will strengthen the function's contribution to the business by ensuring that it is commercially effective, close to the operation and involved early in decisions that affect cost, supply, quality and scalability.

You will set direction and build capability while remaining closely involved in the operation. You will personally engage in important negotiations, supplier escalations, supply risks and complex business decisions when required.

Your main Tasks

• Set and evolve the Procurement strategy, priorities and operating model in line with mylife’s growth, product, manufacturing and financial objectives
• Transform Procurement into a stronger business partner: involved early in product, sourcing, manufacturing and investment decisions, while remaining pragmatic, responsive and solution-oriented
• Lead and develop the Procurement team, strengthening the capabilities required for a growing and increasingly complex business. Establish a focused operating rhythm for performance, prioritisation and decision-making
• Build trusted and influential relationships across R&D, Product Management, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Operations, Finance and the sites. Help the business make better decisions before supplier and product choices become difficult or costly to change
• Shape the supplier portfolio through segmentation, sourcing and category strategies, supplier selection, commercial negotiations and supplier development
• Balance cost and commercial terms with quality, resilience, innovation, lead time, scalability and total business value. Ensure Procurement supports growth rather than optimising cost in isolation
• Take hands-on ownership of complex supplier and operational topics. Personally engage in material negotiations, supplier escalations, supply constraints, material availability and continuity decisions when the situation requires it
• Ensure that critical suppliers, contract manufacturing organisations and supply risks are visible, understood and actively managed. Work closely with Quality and Regulatory Affairs on supplier qualification, change control, documentation, audit readiness and the consequences of supplier decisions
• Strengthen Procurement’s involvement in new product introduction, industrialisation, lifecycle changes, make-or-buy decisions and other topics affecting supply, competitiveness and scalability
• Work closely with the Burgdorf and Schwerin sites and external manufacturing partners. Understand the practical realities of manufacturing and translate them into effective Procurement priorities and actions
• Develop the team’s ability to manage its areas independently while remaining close to execution and providing direction where priorities, risks or decisions require leadership
• Improve processes, governance, data, KPIs and systems so that they support better decisions and sustainable execution
• Translate Procurement performance, opportunities and risks into clear business choices for the COO and relevant leadership Forums

Your Profile

• Substantial experience in Procurement, including strategic sourcing, supplier management, commercial negotiations and supply or continuity decisions
• Experience in direct materials, manufacturing procurement, new product introduction, industrialisation or external manufacturing relationships
• A track record of leading people, building Procurement capability or transforming a Procurement organisation
• Demonstrated ability to influence consequential decisions across functions, sites and organisational boundaries, including where you did not have direct authority
• The credibility to challenge Procurement recommendations from both a commercial and operational perspective, while working constructively with the business
• Experience in MedTech, pharma or another regulated manufacturing environment is strongly preferred. You understand the importance of quality, traceability, qualification, change control and supply continuity
• A genuinely hands-on mindset. You are comfortable moving between strategy and operational detail, visiting suppliers or sites, resolving issues, engaging in negotiations and understanding the facts behind the reports
• Strong commercial judgement, with the ability to balance cost, quality, resilience, speed, compliance, and business impact
• Motivated and curious, with the drive to learn the business quickly, challenge assumptions, and take ownership in an evolving environment
• Fluency in English