Director of Trading & Procurement

About the Job

As a key growth accelerator, A11 partners with Europe’s most ambitious startups and scaleups, corporates, and SMBs to connect them with top-tier talent ready to make an impact.

We’re looking for an experienced Director of Trading & Procurement (m/f/d) to join and lead a team of young and hungry category managers, through high-volume purchasing decisions in a dynamic environment where prices, availability, and supplier landscapes shift constantly.

You will own end-to-end procurement strategy and execution: sourcing, onboarding to the system, supplier negotiations and disputes, pricing, team leadership, and process design. We need someone who can think strategically and execute operationally every single day — from setting category strategy to approving individual purchase orders. You will be in the driver seat to build the first AI automated trading engine - a unique opportunity in the industrial supply space.

You report directly to the SVP Operations and sit on the operations leadership team. Andercore uses AI extensively across the business; you will be expected to leverage it to drive efficiency, margins, and scalability in procurement.

Join the A11 Ecosystem – A next-generation supply chain platform, the company is redefining how one of the world’s largest industries sources, distributes, and finances materials. Engineered to unlock the full potential of global trade, it harnesses agentic AI and workflow automation to provide seamless, high-efficiency access to premium materials at scale. Since its commercial rollout, the platform has fueled exponential growth, optimizing procurement for thousands of businesses while setting new benchmarks for speed, transparency, and efficiency. Its competitive edge lies in full digitization and AI-driven supply chain management automation, eliminating inefficiencies and creating a direct, intelligent bridge between suppliers and buyers. With a team of 80+ FTEs across Europe (Berlin HQ), China, and India, the company is rapidly scaling toward profitability, driving triple-digit million GMV, and setting new industry standards in autonomous, AI-powered supply chain orchestration.

In this role, you’ll:

• Build and run the procurement machine: Develop and execute procurement strategies that support a high 2-digit monthly procurement spend with exponential growth. Negotiate favourable terms, pricing, and contracts with suppliers on a daily basis.
• Lead and develop the team: Manage 10+ team members, set clear priorities daily, coach emerging team leads, and create a culture of accountability and speed. You will need to be assertive and hands-on.
• Create scalable processes: Design, implement, and continuously improve procurement workflows, playbooks, and controls. Processes are implemented in days and weeks at Andercore — not quarters and years.
• Own supplier relationships: Source, evaluate, and onboard suppliers. Maintain and expand a high-quality supplier network with strong retention across existing and emerging markets.
• Drive margin improvement: Identify cost-saving opportunities, optimise purchasing decisions, and improve payment terms to boost net revenue margin and cash cycle.
• Collaborate cross-functionally: Work closely with Sales, Customer Success, Logistics, Accounting, and Product & Engineering to align supply with demand and ensure operational excellence.
• Leverage data and AI: Use data to inform purchasing decisions, monitor supplier performance, and identify market trends. Embrace AI tools to automate and scale procurement operations.

Your Profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a top university or business school
• 2–5 years in a high-performance environment: Tier-1 strategy consulting (e.g. McKinsey, BCG, Bain) or commodity trading / high-velocity B2B procurement
• Proven ability to build processes and delegate effectively. You must be able to create systems that outlast your personal involvement — not do everything yourself
• Strong assertiveness and people leadership. You will manage a young team that needs clear direction, daily prioritisation, and coaching
• Ability to operate at both strategic and granular levels: setting category strategy in the morning and reviewing individual POs in the afternoon
• Excellent analytical and communication skills. Fluent English is required; German is a strong plus
• Comfortable with a high-intensity, fast-paced startup environment where priorities can shift daily
• Hard-working, proactive, and independent. Willing to go the extra mile to get the job done

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience in marketplaces, SaaS, or construction / infrastructure / energy materials.
• Exposure to AI-driven operations or automation of procurement workflows.
• Familiarity with cross-border trade and international supplier management.

Please note that this position is based in Berlin.

Benefits and Perks:

• Fulfil a role with entrepreneurial freedom and help scale a high-impact business model
• Join an experienced founding team of serial and 2nd-time founders
• Attractive base and bonus compensation program
• Collaborate with top-tier investors and angels (incl. various unicorn founders) as well as leading market experts

If you’re eager to join the A11 Ecosystem and shape what’s next, we want to hear from you!

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

A11 is committed to diverse and equal opportunities hiring for all – applicants, candidates, and employees alike. We value humans – with all our glorious multifaceted backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences – and look forward to your application.