Senior buyer

Allison Off-Highway Drive & Motion Systems; Reggio Emilia; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Job summary

Allison Off-Highway Drive & Motion Systems in Italy is seeking a Senior Buyer to lead strategic and operational procurement across multiple commodity categories, with a focus on hydraulics and sub-assemblies. The role reports to Local Purchasing Manager and drives cost efficiency, quality, and supplier performance.

You will negotiate contracts, develop commodity strategies, oversee global sourcing, and work with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Management Engineering, Economics or equivalent.
• More than 5 years of professional experience in purchasing.
• Experience in an industrial multinational environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic and operational procurement activities across multiple material categories, with a primary focus on sub-assembly components (hydraulics).
• Develop commodity strategies aligned with technical, quality, commercial and supply chain requirements.
• Negotiate contracts and secure favorable purchasing conditions across all suppliers.
• Oversee global sourcing and ensure cost efficiency and risk management.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier relationship management

Cost analysis

Negotiation

Project management

Leadership

English communication

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Management Engineering or Economics

Tools

MS Office

SAP

Job description

JOIN THE TEAM THAT’S POWERING PROGRESS

Building cities. Driving commerce. Fueling Progress. For over 100 years, Allison has powered the vehicles and technology that move our world forward.

What powers us? Our employees. From the first person hired by James Allison in 1915 to the thousands across the globe who work for Allison today, we’re driving progress everywhere because we employ top talent worldwide. In both the Allison Transmission and Allison Off‑Highway Drive and Motion Systems business units, our team strives to Improve the Way the World Works.

Learn more about this role and how you can begin driving your career forward!

Position Summary

Reporting to the Local Purchasing Manager, this position leads all strategic and operational procurement activities for the assigned commodities. He/She leverages purchasing strategies to maximize results and synergies across the supply base, ensuring effective and professional sourcing of products and services.

Main Responsibilites

The Senior Buyer is responsible for leading and supporting all purchasing activities across multiple material categories, with a primary focus on sub-assembly components (with a particular focus on hydraulics). The role contributes to the definition and deployment of commodity strategies for the assigned suppliers and sub‑categories, ensuring alignment with technical, quality, commercial and supply chain requirements. He/She ensures the achievement of the required quality, delivery performance, cost efficiency, technical features, sustainability standards, and risk management. In addition to operational procurement responsibilities, the position oversees global sourcing activities, following established processes and delivering results at consolidated commodity level. He/She leads negotiations and agreement finalization, securing competitive and sustainable purchasing conditions across all assigned material categories.

Main opportunities and challenges:

• Member of Cross-functional Team
• Multiple Commodities to be covered
• Obtaining quotes in accordance with predefined quality criteria and company standards; benchmarking quotes; processing and concluding contracts
• Initiating procurement processes, taking costs into account
• Preparing and conducting negotiations
• Placing orders
• Conducting price comparisons to optimize the procurement situation
• Preparing documents for annual/price agreements
• Preparing consignment stock agreements, conducting month-end closing audits, implementing and monitoring credit note procedures, and reducing costs
• Preparing, negotiating, and implementing make-or-buy decisions in collaboration with the relevant departments
• Supporting the purchasing management in team leadership
• Developing and implementing efficient procurement and negotiation strategies
• Optimizing purchasing processes to increase added value
• Market monitoring and proactive adaptation of purchasing strategies
• Supplier management: establishing and developing strategic business partners; consolidating purchasing volumes and reducing the number of suppliers; serving as a liaison between departments and suppliers Resolution of discrepancies

Job position requirements

Education:

University bachelor degree

Mechanical Eng., Management Eng. or Economics

Professional background (companies/roles/preferred previous experiences/years of experiences)

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Economics, Business Administration or equivalent, combined with relevant professional experience in procurement.
• More than 5 years of professional experience in purchasing (preferred in industrial multinational environment)

Hard skills (knowledge, technical skills, languages, IT skills…)

Essential:

• Strategic sourcing
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Cost Analysis and Value Engineering
• Technical knowledge, understanding of industrial manufacturing processes
• Contract Management
• Commercial - Financial / Cost Management and Negotiation Skills
• Quality Fundamentals Management
• Proficient in MS Office; SAP knowledge is an advantage
• Excellent written and spoken English skills
• Languages: Italian / English
• Understanding of market trends and sound judgment
• Proven project management and leadership skills
• Availability to travel domestically and internationally, according to business needs

Considered as a plus:

• Experience dealing with Asia Pacific vendor base

Soft skills

• Structured and precise work style, high level of comprehension, and strong commitment
• Ability to maintain high performance under pressure, with strong adaptability and resilience
• High motivation, teamwork skills, and the ability to work independently
• Strong negotiation skills and networking abilities
• Excellent communication skills and a strong work ethic

Compensation:

Starting gross annual salary (RAL): starting at €50.000, Level B2 - CCNL Metalmeccanica Industria - The total compensation package will be determined based on the candidate’s skills and professional experience.

Allison Transmission is an equal opportunity employer. We have opportunities for all qualified applicants regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, creed, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status.

“If you are not contacted within 60 days after your application, the search should be considered filled. In compliance with law obligations and GDPR, your application could be considered for further opportunities aligned with you profile"