Country Buyer/Indirect Procurement Buyer

Job Specification: Country Buyer (Indirect Procurement)

Role Overview

• Segment: Corporate

• Department: Supply Chain Management (SCM)

• Location: Regional/Shared Services Center (as applicable)

• Reports To: Regional Indirect Procurement Manager / SCM Lead

• Experience Level: Mid-level (3–5 years)

Position Summary

The Country Buyer executes end-to-end operational and strategic sourcing activities for indirect materials and services across designated regional sites. This role focuses on driving cost optimization, ensuring strict policy compliance, and delivering exceptional service to internal stakeholders within a fast-paced, multinational automotive environment.

Key Responsibilities

Sourcing & Commercial Management

• Execute Sourcing: Lead RFx processes with approved and strategic suppliers.

• Negotiate Terms: Drive commercial negotiations to secure cost savings and avoidances.

• Optimize Costs: Identify and implement continuous cost improvement opportunities.

• Align Strategies: Collaborate with regional Indirect Category Teams on business goals.

Operations & Stakeholder Support

• Process Requests: Manage internal eRequests within agreed service-level targets (SLAs).

• Direct PO Creation: Provide precise purchasing instructions to Order Creation Specialists.

• Resolve Issues: Investigate supplier delivery delays and implement corrective actions.

• Clear Discrepancies: Support resolution of pricing errors, invoices, and payment concerns.

• Manage Relationships: Build strong ties with key suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Compliance & Performance

• Ensure Compliance: Maintain 100% adherence to corporate SCM policies and standards.

• Track Metrics: Monitor and hit annual KPIs defined in the MyCore process.

• System Integrity: Update and maintain accurate data within global procurement e-tools.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education & Experience

• Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Business, SCM, Economics, or Engineering (Required).

• Advanced Degree: Master’s degree (Preferred).

• Experience: 3–5 years in Purchasing, Procurement, or Shared Services (Required).

• Industry: Experience in a multinational or manufacturing environment (Preferred).

Skills & Competencies

• Languages: Fluent English (Required) + at least one regional language (e.g., German, Spanish, French, Turkish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian, Hungarian, Korean, Japanese) (Required).

• Software: Advanced MS Office, specifically Excel, PowerPoint, and Word (Required).

• Systems: Hands-on experience with ERPs like SAP, Ariba, Coupa, or Oracle (Preferred).

• Negotiation: Proven track record of strong commercial acumen and supplier management.

• Soft Skills: High stress tolerance, excellent prioritization, and problem-solving skills.