Director Strategic Procurement

GEA Group; Denmark; On-site; DKK 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

GEA Group in Søborg invites an experienced Director Strategic Procurement to lead and further develop our strategic procurement organization. You will guide a newly established team of six Strategic Buyers, shape category strategies for Direct and Indirect spend, and build strong supplier collaborations across global markets.

The role requires a proven track record in strategic procurement leadership, contract negotiations, and supplier development, with a focus on cost optimization,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in Strategic Procurement.
• At least 5 years of people leadership experience.
• Proven track record of developing and maturing Strategic Procurement functions.
• Strong experience in supplier management, contract negotiations, and global sourcing.
• Strong financial acumen and change management capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build trust across functions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a strategic mindset.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Strategic Procurement team, including coaching and capability building.
• Develop and implement category strategies for Direct and Indirect spend.
• Own and develop relationships with external suppliers and internal workshops.
• Drive supplier development focusing on capabilities, quality, delivery, sustainability, and cost.
• Lead contract negotiations and commercial agreements globally.
• Drive supplier innovation with R&D and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance, governance, and sustainability in supplier relationships.
• Lead cross-functional procurement initiatives and align sourcing priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Procurement strategy

Supplier management

Contract negotiations

Global sourcing

Change management

Communication

Analytical thinking

English fluency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Business Administration or related field

Job description

At GEA, we are committed to engineering for a better world. We are now looking for an experienced and inspiring Director Strategic Procurement to lead and further develop our strategic procurement organization in Søborg.

Responsibilities / Tasks

This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of a newly established team of six Strategic Buyers covering both Direct and Indirect Procurement and play a pivotal role in building a mature, high-performing Strategic Procurement function. You will have a significant impact on our business by developing supplier strategies, driving cost optimization initiatives, and strengthening collaboration across internal and external stakeholders.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead and develop the Strategic Procurement team, including coaching, mentoring, and capability building.
• Develop and implement category strategies for both Direct and Indirect spend in alignment with overall GEA procurement strategies.
• Own and develop relationships with external suppliers and internal GEA workshops.
• Drive supplier development with focus on technical capabilities, quality, delivery performance, sustainability, and cost competitiveness.
• Lead contract negotiations and commercial agreements across global supplier markets.
• Drive supplier innovation in collaboration with R&D and business stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance, governance, and sustainability requirements are embedded in supplier relationships.
• Lead cross-functional procurement initiatives and secure alignment on sourcing priorities.

Your Profile / Qualifications

To succeed in this role, you bring both strategic leadership capabilities and a strong procurement background. We imagine that you have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience within Strategic Procurement.
• At least 5 years of people leadership experience.
• A proven track record of developing and maturing Strategic Procurement functions.
• Strong experience in supplier management, contract negotiations, and global sourcing.
• Strong financial acumen and change management capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust across functions and organizational levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities combined with a strategic mindset.
• Fluency in English; additional language skills are considered an advantage.

As a person, you are a results-oriented leader who influences through collaboration rather than control. You communicate with authenticity, lead change with empathy, and know how to create alignment around ambitious goals.