Global Lead Buyer - Woven/Knitted Fabrics & Glass Cords

Job Description

• Material & Supplier Strategy (Full Ownership): Develop and execute global material and supplier strategies, including conducting market analysis, scanning new suppliers, driving cross-functional strategy definition, ensuring Continental’s requirements are embedded, and documenting/implementing strategies across all Business Areas (BAs) worldwide. Evaluate suppliers and integrate results into strategic planning.
• Negotiation (Full Ownership): Lead cost optimization negotiations for ContiTech with cross-functional support, develop new sourcing markets and global bundle opportunities across BAs, design and implement state-of-the-art negotiation concepts, and negotiate non-conformance costs with suppliers.
• Contract Management (Full Ownership): Negotiate and conclude legally binding supplier contracts to fulfill all requirements, and ensure timely documentation and issuance of supplier contracts.
• Data Maintenance (Shared Responsibility): Ensure timely and accurate implementation of purchasing data in relevant IT systems, and own monthly local data controlling, correction, and target achievement.
• Achieve Best Market Conditions (Shared Responsibility): Actively influence the sourcing process via supplier selection, price negotiation, contract closure, and sourcing decisions; bundle total category demand for ContiTech.
• Professional Project Handling (Shared Responsibility): Lead global/BA-specific ad-hoc projects related to Reinforcements, and drive cost-out, shortage, and crisis management initiatives for Reinforcements.
• Continuous Cost Reduction (Support Role): Support product re-design and cost-saving activities, and drive improvement programs with suppliers.
• Material Planning / Order Desk (Support Role): Support material price planning and forecasting for annual rebates/price deviations; ensure short-, mid-, and long-term material supply for production facilities (optimizing cost, quality, and technology); and conduct internal/external correspondence while collaborating closely with production, R&D, and quality teams.
• Material Escalation (Support Role): Secure on-time supply of production materials, and support plants on procurement and related topics.

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of Contitech purchasing processes, professional purchasing and negotiation skills.
• Proficient in cross-cultural communication and presentation techniques.
• Solid commercial background including contract law expertise, and in-depth technical understanding of reinforcement components.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical problem-solving capabilities.
• Good command of supply chain procedures, product features and regional market conditions.
• Skilled in using SAP, Supply ON, Microsoft Office, Fides and other office & procurement systems.

Additional Information