About VAT Group

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world’s leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation – always working together as #oneVAT.

Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.

Strategic Sourcing Manager

Purpose of the role

• Developing and executing global sourcing strategies for the assigned direct materials categories (elastomers)
• Acting as a business partner to key stakeholders in business (Business Units, Engineering, etc.) and Operations (Product Line Supply Chain, Supplier Quality, Production, Materials Management, etc.)
• The global category manager shall sustain the Global Strategic Sourcing Operating Model and provide the supply capability and capacity at best cost to support the company’s future business needs and protection of brand value
• Application of aligned sourcing processes, sustainable supplier assessments and development approach, a performing and regulatory compliant supply base footprint shall be established and actively managed, contributing to the enhancement of the supply base performance on Quality, Delivery and Cost (QCD)
• Realization of a measurable value >3% in recurring and P&L effective cost reductions per year across the global 3rd party spend in the assigned spend categories accompanied by a leveraged and benchmarked supply base management
• Grow and further develop a qualified and performing Best Cost Country Supply Base in line with the companies and operations BCC objectives preferably in Eastern Europe and manage a sustainable spend allocation

Responsibilities:

• Management of own material categories (capacity, knowledge management, performance)
• Accountable for contributing to the global Direct Material & Supply Base Performance (QCD)
• Representing own direct material categories within the VAT organization
• Accountable for the category specific achievement of the objectives of cost optimization, supply base optimization, geographic sourcing footprint and Best Cost Country Sourcing
• Providing forward-looking guidance on trends, threats and opportunities in own categories (eg. raw materials etc.)
• Active contribution to the bottom up alignment of the Direct Materials Category Team with the defined / set company objectives
• Interface to BU / Engineering for Strategic Sourcing activities along with the PDP (IP07) process
• Act as a change agent in regards to main stakeholders
• Perform the development of category sourcing strategies applying and complying with defined methods and tools
• Active supplier relationship management of the global supply base within its own category perimeter in alignment with the category teams in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania
• Ensure consistent application of all Sourcing Levers
• Contribution to main Sourcing KPIs
• Assembles and actively leads category specific / cross-functional sourcing board
• Actively monitors and performs a supply base risk assessment across its own categories
• Participates in and contributes to continuous improvement of direct material practices

Qualifications: 

• 3-4 years in-depth strategic and operational sourcing experience with a solid working knowledge of global category management
• Demonstrated work experience on category specific production techniques and processes
• Knowledge about category sourcing markets
• Office Software / IT application (esp. Excel, Word, Power Point, etc.)
• Sourcing in Eastern Europe, Asia and experience in Best Cost Country and spend relocation activities
• Working experience within a global complex organization
• Experience in the field of machine building, vacuum technology and semiconductors
• Cross-function / category team management (min. functional)
• Sensible and emphatic communication skills with suppliers, colleagues, internal stakeholders, etc.
• Strong analytical skills (risk based) and focus on the essential facts
• Able to get results through others, able to multi-task, sense of priority, able to handle stress levels
• Good communication skills in German and English (any other language will be a plus)