Strategic Supplier Leader

Schneider Electric; Échirolles; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Cafeteria

Health care

Pension fund

Employee Share Ownership Plan

Global Family Leave Package

Job summary

Schneider Electric is seeking a Strategic Supplier Leader to own key supplier relationships and shape category strategy across the organization. You will work with regional teams, stakeholders and suppliers, combining strategy development with hands-on management and negotiation in a hybrid setup.

Ideal candidates bring senior procurement experience, strong technical and commercial acumen, and a proven track record negotiating with strategic suppliers on complex contracts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Experience in senior procurement, strategic sourcing or supplier management.
• Strong technical background with good business and commercial acumen.
• Proven experience negotiating with strategic or key suppliers, including complex contracts and services.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders and executives.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to turn market and business insights into decisions.
• Experience working across multicultural and cross-functional teams.
• Hands-on approach and the ability to work effectively in a project environment, manage deadlines and drive decisions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• An interest in or experience with AI and digital tools would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Shape supplier and category strategy across the organization.
• Lead strategic supplier relationships and contribute to global negotiations.
• Drive supplier performance and improvement across Quality, Service and Productivity.
• Lead and connect the wider supplier network across regions and functions.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Negotiation skills

Technical understanding

Procurement expertise

Supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

AI and digital tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Tools

Cost models

Supplier scoring models

Price indexes

Job description

Are you an experienced procurement professional who combines strategic thinking, strong negotiation skills and technical understanding?

We are looking for a Strategic Supplier Leader to take ownership of key strategic supplier relationships and help shape category and supplier strategy across our organization. In this senior role, you will work closely with regional procurement teams, business stakeholders and key suppliers, combining strategy development with hands-on supplier management and negotiation.

What will you do?

Shape supplier and category strategy

• Analyze procurement needs across different business entities and translate them into clear category and supplier strategies.
• Monitor market developments, supplier landscapes, pricing trends and supply risks within your geographic scope.
• Identify and recommend strategic suppliers based on business and category needs.
• Contribute to global procurement tools and methodologies, including cost models, supplier scoring models and price indexes.
• Help evolve the supplier strategy as market conditions, technologies and business requirements change.

Lead strategic supplier relationships

• Take direct ownership of selected strategic suppliers and lead or contribute to global negotiations.
• Support Regional Procurement teams in complex supplier negotiations.
• Plan and lead regular business reviews with strategic suppliers.
• Negotiate and deploy supplier framework agreements.
• Lead the qualification process for new suppliers within the category.
• Build strong relationships with both supplier leadership teams and internal stakeholders.

Drive supplier performance and improvement

• Monitor supplier performance across Quality, Service and Productivity.
• Follow up on improvement plans and ensure agreed actions are implemented.
• Track supplier concentration and identify potential opportunities or sourcing risks.
• Drive a strong innovation and productivity pipeline across your scope.
• Share market intelligence, technical developments, category strategy and best practices with Regional and Operational Buyers.

Lead and connect the wider supplier network

• Coordinate and engage the network of Supplier Leaders within your geographic scope.
• Support alignment between global category strategy and regional execution.
• Contribute to objective setting and performance discussions for Supplier Leaders within the category.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for someone who brings a strong combination of procurement expertise, technical understanding and commercial judgment.

Ideally, you have:

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Solid experience in senior procurement, strategic sourcing or supplier management.
• A strong technical background combined with good business and commercial acumen.
• Proven experience negotiating with strategic or key suppliers, including complex contracts and services.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders and executives.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to turn market and business insights into decisions.
• Experience working across multicultural and cross-functional teams.
• A hands‑on approach and the ability to work effectively in a project environment, manage deadlines and drive decisions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• An interest in or experience with AI and digital tools would be an advantage.

Location: Budapest, Hungary

What's in it for me?

• High-visibility role where your work directly impacts supply chain resilience and organizational success
• Opportunity to collaborate with global suppliers and cross-functional teams on strategic initiatives
• Culture that values innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement
• Career development with access to learning opportunities, mentorship, and growth pathways
• Competitive compensation package, according to industry standards including annual bonus
• Cafeteria, life insurance, health care & pension fund contribution, Medicover package and a lot more
• Employee Share Ownership Plan, our unique program with the opportunity to become a shareholder in the company
• Global Family Leave Package to support a healthy work-life balance
• We work in a hybrid set-up to fit with your lifestyle

Bring your procurement expertise to a team that's ready to welcome you — apply today!

At Schneider, we believe that every employee is a talent who deserves equal opportunities. This means you matter. Every individual needs to feel valued, supported, and treated fairly to do their best work.

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We are looking for IMPACT Makers; exceptional people who turn sustainability ambitions into actions at the intersection of automation, electrification, and digitization. We celebrate IMPACT Makers and believe everyone has the potential to be one.

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€40 billion global revenue
+9% organic growth
150 000+ employees in 100+ countries

You must submit an online application to be considered for any position with us. This position will be posted until filled.

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