Strategic Sourcing Manager - Electronics

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 - Electronics
Strategic Sourcing Manager
Purpose of the role
Developing and executing global sourcing strategies for the assigned direct materials categories (electronics)
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.)
Sustaining the Global Strategic Sourcing Operating Model and providing supply capability and capacity at best cost to support future business needs and protect brand value
Applying aligned sourcing processes, sustainable supplier assessments, and development approaches to establish and actively manage a performing and regulatory-compliant supply base footprint
Contributing to the enhancement of supply base performance on Quality, Delivery, and Cost (QCD)
Realizing measurable value of >3% in recurring and P&L-effective cost reductions per year across the global third-party spend in the assigned categories through leveraged and benchmarked supply base management
Growing and further developing a qualified and performing Best Cost Country (BCC) supply base in line with company and operations objectives, preferably in Eastern Europe, while managing a sustainable spend allocation
Responsibilities:
Management of own material categories (capacity, knowledge management, performance)
Accountable for contributing to global Direct Material & Supply Base Performance (QCD)
Representing own direct material categories within the VAT organization
Accountable for category-specific achievement of objectives related to cost optimization, supply base optimization, geographic sourcing footprint, and Best Cost Country Sourcing
Providing forward-looking guidance on trends, threats, and opportunities within assigned categories (e.g., raw materials)
Actively contributing to the bottom-up alignment of the Direct Materials Category Team with defined company objectives
Acting as the interface to Business Units and Engineering for Strategic Sourcing activities along the PDP (IP07) process
Acting as a change agent toward key stakeholders
Developing category sourcing strategies using defined methods and tools
Managing supplier relationships across the global supply base within assigned category scope, in alignment with category teams in Switzerland, Malaysia, and Romania
Ensuring consistent application of all sourcing levers
Contributing to key sourcing KPIs
Assembling and actively leading category-specific and cross-functional sourcing boards
Actively monitoring and conducting supply base risk assessments across assigned categories
Participating in and contributing to the continuous improvement of direct material sourcing practices
Qualifications:
3-4 years of in-depth strategic and operational sourcing experience with solid knowledge of global category management
Demonstrated experience with category-specific production techniques and processes
Knowledge of category sourcing markets
Proficiency in Office software and IT applications, especially Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Experience sourcing in Eastern Europe and Asia, including Best Cost Country sourcing and spend relocation activities
Experience working within a global and complex organization
Experience in machine building, vacuum technology, and semiconductors
Experience in cross-functional and category team management (at least functional leadership)
Strong interpersonal, sensitive, and empathetic communication skills with suppliers, colleagues, and internal stakeholders
Strong analytical and risk-based decision-making skills with a focus on key facts
Ability to achieve results through others, manage multiple priorities, set priorities effectively, and handle pressure
Good communication skills in German and English; additional languages are a plus
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