Senior Buyer DACH

Laboratoires Pierre Fabre; Freiburg im Breisgau; Hybrid; EUR 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two days remote per week

Jobrad

Pension scheme

Staff shop for dermo-cosmetic products

Free skin screenings

Height-adjustable desks

Targeted coaching and training

Job summary

Laboratoires Pierre Fabre is seeking a Senior Buyer for the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) to lead procurement activities across Dermo-Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals. You will collaborate with Corporate Procurement and European Sourcing to drive savings, supplier rationalization, and ERP deployment of SAP Ariba.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in indirect purchasing, strong negotiation skills, and fluency in German and English (French a plus).

Qualifications

• 5 years of higher education (university or business school) with training in purchasing or equivalent
• 5-10 years of experience as an Indirect Buyer with strong purchasing process knowledge
• Proven autonomy and responsibility in managing purchasing processes
• Strong negotiation experience and stakeholder management skills
• Fluent German and English; French is a plus
• Knowledge and experience with SAP ARIBA
• Excellent ability to propose and implement breakaway initiatives
• Strong analytical and project management skills
• Good knowledge of local markets
• International/regional experience is a plus
• Two days of remote working per week
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• An attractive and secure role at a forward-thinking pharmaceutical company based on the Pierre Fabre Foundation
• An attractive range of additional benefits (Jobrad, a pension scheme that goes well beyond a 15 % employer contribution, staff shop for our dermo-cosmetic products, free skin screenings etc.)
• High-quality work equipment, including height-adjustable desks in an open-plan office
• Ongoing support through targeted coaching and training programmes
• A dynamic team in which trust, enjoyment of work and a spirit of camaraderie play a major role

Responsibilities

• Own Procurement activity and performance (savings achievement) for the German affiliate
• Increase procurement maturity in Germany ahead of ERP deployment
• Deploy Global/Regional/Local sourcing strategies based on Category Management
• Propose a rationalized panel of suppliers for each major purchasing category
• Establish sourcing strategies and launch major tenders in DACH for key projects
• Negotiate with suppliers and manage the supplier selection process
• Manage and negotiate supplier contracts on behalf of subsidiaries
• Chair regular performance reviews with selected suppliers
• Monitor suppliers' financial health and mutual dependency with the Group
• Potentially lead regional category strategies / European tenders

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Matrix organization experience

Analytical skills

Project management

Education

University degree in purchasing or related field

Tools

SAP ARIBA

MS Office

Job description

We develop high-quality products that help people feel comfortable in their own skin. But our commitment goes far beyond that: we care for our employees and value diversity and equal opportunities - Pierre Fabre has been recognized as a top employer for good reason.

More importantly, we take our responsibility towards society and the environment seriously and put values such as sustainability into practice every single day - this is the only way to master the challenges of our time.

As an employee, you will be working in a modern company that focuses on internationality, research, and social responsibility. We are not a listed company; instead, the profits of our GmbH are reinvested into the Pierre Fabre Foundation. This means that by working with us, you are not only advancing your own career, but also contributing to the common good.

Discover our unique corporate culture - become part of the international Pierre Fabre family.

About the Role

We are looking for a Senior Buyer DACH to take ownership of Procurement activities and performance across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), supporting our Dermo-Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals subsidiaries. Reporting to the Corporate Procurement Department, you will work closely with the Group Purchasing Department (Corporate Procurement Manager & European Sourcing Manager) to drive major procurement topics, identify synergies across the group, and implement Global/Regional Procurement strategies. You will also play a key role in the deployment of our international common ERP tool (SAP ARIBA) across the DACH region.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement Performance & Strategy

• Own Procurement activity and performance (savings achievement) for the German affiliate
• Increase the Procurement maturity level in Germany to prepare the international ERP deployment (supplier rationalization, contract coverage, preferred supplier lists, KPI roadmap follow-up)
• Deploy Global/Regional/Local sourcing strategies based on Category Management
• Propose a rationalized panel of suppliers for each major purchasing category
• Establish sourcing strategies and launch major tenders in DACH for key projects
• Negotiate with suppliers and manage the supplier selection process
• Manage and negotiate supplier contracts on behalf of subsidiaries
• Chair regular performance reviews with selected suppliers
• Monitor suppliers' financial health and mutual dependency with the Group
• Potentially lead regional category strategies / European tenders adding value for the German affiliate

Category Strategy Development

• Analyze supplier markets (via RFIs) and identify best practices
• Define and achieve targeted savings by category
• Build and rationalize the supplier panel per commodity, in coordination with the Global Category Manager
• Identify the Group's strategic suppliers

Operational Performance & Negotiation

• Initiate and manage call-for-tender processes and contract re-negotiations
• Negotiate commercial conditions and ensure correct application in price catalogs and purchase orders
• Negotiate contracts in liaison with requesting departments, Finance, HR, or External Legal Counsel
• Identify sources of savings and synergies across Branches and Commercial Departments
• Define and deploy KPIs to measure supplier performance
• Propose breakaway business models to optimize Cost, Quality, and Time

Requirements

• 5 years of higher education (university or business school), with training in purchasing or equivalent professional experience
• 5-10 years of experience as an Indirect Buyer with strong knowledge of purchasing processes (panel strategy, tenders, supplier performance assessment)
• Proven autonomy and responsibility in managing Purchasing processes
• Strong negotiation experience and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work effectively in a matrix organization
• Knowledge and experience with SAP ARIBA
• Excellent ability to propose and implement breakaway initiatives
• Strong analytical and project management skills
• Good knowledge of local markets
• International/regional experience is a plus
• Fluent German and English; French is a plus
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• An attractive and secure role at a forward-thinking pharmaceutical company based on the Pierre Fabre Foundation
• Two days of remote working per week, if desired
• An attractive range of additional benefits (Jobrad, a pension scheme that goes well beyond a 15 % employer contribution, staff shop for our dermo-cosmetic products, free skin screenings etc.)
• High-quality work equipment, including height-adjustable desks in an open-plan office
• Ongoing support through targeted coaching and training programmes
• A dynamic team in which trust, enjoyment of work and a spirit of camaraderie play a major role