Strategic Category Buyer

Responsibilities

• Strategy Development: Develop, implement, and manage multi-year strategic sourcing plans for assigned indirect spend categories to achieve cost savings, risk mitigation, and service level improvements by collaborating with cross-functional leaders across USMCA and aligning with global category strategy.
• Sourcing & Negotiation: Lead all phases of the sourcing and benchmark process, including market research, spend analysis, development of RFx, and complex commercial and contractual negotiations with suppliers.
• Supplier Management: Establish and manage key supplier relationships, conducting regular performance reviews, driving supplier innovation, and ensuring compliance with contract terms.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner closely with internal stakeholders (e.g., Logistics, Finance, HR, Operations, Facilities) to understand their business needs, align procurement strategies, and ensure successful category strategy implementation to achieve maximum cost savings.
• Cost and Capital Management: Identify and implement cost-reduction, value-enhancement and working capital optimization opportunities using total cost of ownership (TCO) principles. Track and report savings against targets.
• Change Management: Develop creative business and operating models with strategic suppliers to drive operational excellence and continuous cost improvement. Successfully manage change by analyzing extensive procurement data, creating executive summaries and presenting its impact to senior leadership routinely.
• Risk & Compliance: Identify and mitigate supply chain risks. Ensure all procurement activities comply with company policies, good procurement practices, ethical standards, and TRUMPF's Internal Control System (ICS).

Requirements

• Three to five years previous experience preferably in purchasing, supply chain, procurement, project management or similar roles in corporate environment.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation and problem-solving skills, ability to work under pressure, strong analytical and conceptual skills, and high self-confidence are a must.
• Experience with SAP, lean manufacturing, and understanding of cost breakdowns is strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office programs including PowerPoint, Word and Excel is required.
• Experience with technical writing and procurement law preferred but not required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in any engineering and/or business or related field, or suitable combination of education and work experience required.
• MBA/MS or CSCP/CPIM, CPSM, or SCPro certifications preferred but not required.