As Director Direct Procurement, you will lead the strategic development and operational excellence of the Direct Materials category across Körber’s global Procurement & Supply Chain organization. You will be responsible for shaping supplier strategies, driving cost optimization, and ensuring governance and alignment with business areas.
Your role in our team
- Function lead of the Körber Directs Procurement Lead Buyer Community, a cross-Business Area group of colleagues taking care of Körber’s top suppliers.
- Lead Buyer for one or several strategic group suppliers.
- Evolve the Direct Materials category strategy, focusing on commodity group management, supplier portfolio optimization, and strategic sourcing.
- Manage and develop relationships with top-tier global suppliers, ensuring performance, innovation, and long-term partnerships.
- Drive cost improvement initiatives through negotiation campaigns, supplier development, and organizational transformation projects.
- Facilitate and steer management meetings and cross-functional alignment across business units.
- Ensure global governance and compliance within the procurement function, including process harmonization and policy adherence.
- Collaborate closely with Business Areas and the Körber Lead Buyer Community to align procurement strategies with operational and financial goals.
- Monitor market trends and risks to proactively adapt sourcing strategies and ensure supply continuity.
Your profile
- University degree in Industrial Engineering, Business Engineering, or a related field.
- Extensive experience in Direct Procurement, ideally in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, or automotive sectors, experience in consulting is a plus.
- Proven expertise in commodity management, supplier negotiations, and strategic sourcing.
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing cross-functional and international teams.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build internal and external networks.
- Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional languages such as German or Portuguese are a plus.
- Willingness to travel internationally as part of a global role.
We Offer You
- Possibility of Working from Home – we care about results not locations;
- Training Budget for each employee – we care about the growth of our people;
- Private Health Insurance – we care about health on and off working hours;
- 3 Additional Vacation Days – we care about free time;
- Fresh fruits – we care about your daily dose of vitamins;
- Fresh coffee, tea or water – we care about boosting your day.
- A home for passionate people who innovate, collaborate and love what they do;
- An environment where the team thinks and acts entrepreneurial;
- An international and dynamic working atmosphere with cross-functional teams;
- The opportunity to take more responsibility and develop your career.