Global Strategic Sourcing Manager - Direct Materials

VAT Vakuumventile AG; Batu Kawan; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

VAT Vakuumventile AG in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing in Malaysia, seeks a Strategic Sourcing Manager (Direct Materials) to shape global sourcing strategies across Direct Materials categories. You will partner with Engineering, Operations and Quality to ensure capacity, quality and cost objectives align with VAT’s growth roadmap.

You will own supplier relationships, drive category performance, oversee risk, and deliver >3% annual savings while expanding Best Cost Country sourcing in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or above in Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering Science or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of solid strategic and operational sourcing experience, with strong working knowledge of Global Category Management.
• Proven experience in global sourcing, supplier development, strategic negotiations, cost management and supply base optimization.
• Strong analytical and risk-based problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify essential facts, translate data into insights and present results clearly and convincingly.
• Experience working within a global and complex organization, preferably in a manufacturing or technology-driven environment.
• Strong interpersonal, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with suppliers, colleagues and senior internal stakeholders.
• Self-motivated and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a global team.
• Strong execution and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and achieve results through others.
• Able to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure and demonstrate sound business judgment.
• Excellent English communication skills; German and/or Chinese language skills would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global sourcing strategies for assigned Direct Materials categories, including Machining, Treatment, E&E Parts and other strategic categories; act as a strategic business partner to key stakeholders across Business Units, Engineering, Operations, Supplier Quality, Production and Materials Management.
• Drive and sustain the Global Category Management Operating Model, ensuring the supply base has the required capability, capacity, resilience and competitiveness to support VAT’s future business needs while protecting brand value.
• Own and manage assigned categories and the related category team, including capacity, capability, knowledge management, supplier performance and development.
• Establish and actively manage a qualified, sustainable and regulatory-compliant supply base, applying standardized sourcing processes, supplier assessment and development methodologies.
• Drive continuous improvement of the global supply base performance across Quality, Delivery and Cost (QDC) while ensuring appropriate supply risk management and business continuity.
• Develop strategic supplier relationships and ensure supplier capabilities and investments are aligned with VAT’s long-term growth, technology and capacity requirements.
• Deliver measurable, recurring and P&L-effective cost savings of >3% annually across the assigned global third-party spend categories through strategic sourcing, cost optimization, benchmarking and supply base leverage.
• Develop and expand a qualified and high-performing Best Cost Country (BCC) supply base in alignment with company and Operations BCC objectives in Asia, while ensuring sustainable and optimized spend allocation.
• Own category-specific objectives covering cost optimization, supply base optimization, geographic sourcing footprint and Best Cost Country Sourcing.
• Provide forward-looking strategic guidance on market trends, technology developments, capacity constraints, supply risks and sourcing opportunities, and proactively manage category and supply base risk.
• Drive bottom-up alignment of the Direct Materials Category Team with the company’s strategic objectives and business priorities.
• Lead and influence cross-functional and supplier stakeholders to achieve sourcing, capacity, quality, delivery and cost objectives.
• Embrace change and demonstrate a continuous improvement mindset, with a strong drive to exceed company and customer expectations.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Global Category Management

Supplier development

Cost management

Negotiation

Risk analysis

Stakeholder management

English communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Supply Chain

Engineering discipline

Job description

VAT Vakuumventile AG in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing in Malaysia, seeks a Strategic Sourcing Manager (Direct Materials) to shape global sourcing strategies across Direct Materials categories. You will partner with Engineering, Operations and Quality to ensure capacity, quality and cost objectives align with VAT’s growth roadmap.

You will own supplier relationships, drive category performance, oversee risk, and deliver >3% annual savings while expanding Best Cost Country sourcing in