Director Strategic Procurement

GEA Germany GmbH; Gladsaxe Kommune; On-site; DKK 1,400,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

GEA Germany GmbH in Søborg, Denmark, is seeking an experienced Director of Strategic Procurement to lead and mature the strategic procurement function.

You will build and develop a six-person team covering Direct and Indirect procurement, drive cost optimization, supplier strategies, and governance across global supplier markets. Fluency in English required; Danish language is a plus.

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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 levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a strategic mindset.
• Fluency in English; additional language skills are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Strategic Procurement team, including coaching and mentorship.
• 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 technical capabilities, quality, delivery, sustainability, and cost.
• 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 in supplier relationships.
• Lead cross-functional procurement initiatives and align sourcing priorities.

Skills

Strategic procurement leadership

People leadership

Supplier management

Contract negotiations

Global sourcing

Financial acumen

Change management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Fluency in English

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.

GEA is one of the largest suppliers of process technology for the food industry and a wide range of other industries. The international technology group focuses on process technology and components for sophisticated production processes in various end-user markets.