Buyer

Real; Nijmegen; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Real Nijmegen, The Netherlands, is seeking a Senior Buyer Raw Materials to shape sourcing strategies for the Infant Nutrition portfolio and manage a €30 million annual spend for a cost-efficient, reliable supply chain.

You will collaborate with procurement, Finance, Planning, Quality, R&D, Marketing, Manufacturing and TPM, lead negotiations, drive supplier performance, and support digital procurement improvements in a fast-paced international environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in procurement, SCM, logistics, business administration, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of procurement experience.
• Experience in food, nutrition, pharmaceutical, FMCG or manufacturing preferred.
• Proven experience in direct and/or indirect procurement.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for raw materials.
• Manage supplier relationships and performance.
• Lead commercial negotiations and cost savings initiatives.
• Manage RFQ processes and contract negotiations.
• Conduct market analysis and commodity risk assessments.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization and productivity improvements.
• Ensure supply continuity through proactive risk management and contingency planning.
• Drive procurement projects including NPD launches and productivity initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align procurement strategies with business objectives.
• Scout and evaluate new suppliers and innovation opportunities.
• Support digitalization and continuous improvement of procurement processes.
• Manage supplier claims and timely resolution of issues.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Contract negotiations

Cross-functional collaboration

English fluency

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Proactive mindset

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Procurement, SCM, Logistics, Business

Job description

Senior Buyer Raw Materials

Location: Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 3 days on-site Contract: 1 year, also open for freelance

Full-time

Are you an experienced procurement professional with a passion for strategic sourcing, supplier management, and driving business value? Do you thrive in an international environment where collaboration, innovation, and commercial impact go hand in hand? Then we are looking for you.

As Senior Buyer Raw Materials, you will play a key role in optimizing our raw material portfolio and securing a reliable, cost-effective supply chain. Managing an annual spend of approximately €30 million, you will contribute directly to profitability, supply assurance, and innovation within our Infant Nutrition business.

Working closely with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders across Procurement, Finance, Planning, Quality, R&D, Marketing, Manufacturing, and TPM, you will help shape sourcing strategies and deliver sustainable value throughout the organization. [6 Group Di...r RM Draft | Word]

What will you do?

As Senior Buyer, you will be responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies while maintaining strong supplier relationships and ensuring continuity of supply.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Leading commercial negotiations and delivering cost savings initiatives
• Managing supplier relationships and driving supplier performance improvements
• Developing sourcing strategies for assigned raw material categories
• Conducting market analysis and commodity risk assessments
• Managing RFQ processes and contract negotiations
• Identifying opportunities for cost optimization and productivity improvements
• Ensuring supply continuity through proactive risk management and contingency planning
• Driving procurement-related projects, including NPD launches and productivity initiatives
• Collaborating closely with internal stakeholders to align procurement strategies with business objectives
• Scouting and evaluating new suppliers and innovation opportunities within the market
• Supporting digitalization and continuous improvement of procurement processes
• Managing supplier claims and ensuring timely resolution of commercial and operational issues [6 Group Di...r RM Draft | Word]

What do you bring?

We are looking for a commercially minded procurement professional who combines strong analytical capabilities with excellent stakeholder management skills.

You have:

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field
• At least 5 years of relevant procurement experience
• Experience within the food, nutrition, pharmaceutical, FMCG, or manufacturing industry is highly preferred
• Proven experience in direct and/or indirect procurement
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills
• Experience managing suppliers and working with cross-functional stakeholders
• A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with strong problem-solving abilities
• The ability to work independently while building strong relationships across the organization
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and verbal
• Knowledge of Chinese and/or Dutch is considered an advantage [6 Group Di...r RM Draft | Word]

What makes you successful?

You are someone who:

• Takes ownership and consistently delivers results
• Acts with integrity and builds trust through transparent communication
• Thrives in a fast-paced, international environment
• Embraces innovation and continuously looks for better ways of working
• Builds strong partnerships internally and externally
• Is open-minded, collaborative, and values diversity of thought and culture
• Balances commercial objectives with quality, compliance, and sustainability requirements