Category Purchaser - MCLF / Travel Services (m/w/d) - REF82667J

This position is within the EMEA Automotive Indirect Materials team. The chosen candidate will be responsible for the development and implementation of the Global, Regional and Local Category Strategies for Global Category Group 3  – Marketing, Consulting, Legal, Finance and Travel Services for assigned scope. The global, regional and local approach creates an added value for all Business Units in terms of commercial, logistical and even technical enhancements, i.e. sustainable total cost reduction, support quality initiatives for internal customers, prolongation of payment terms, warranty and liability optimization, ensuring the availability of materials and services, data transparency and process improvements as well as strengthening of relationship to strategic Business Partners (internally and externally).

Purchasing Strategy

• Support the development, maintenance, alignment, communication, and implementation of strategies within Global Category Group 3 – Marketing, Consulting, Legal, Finance and Travel Services in order to ensure market transparency and highest pooling leverage on Regional and Global basis
• Communication of procurement strategies to improve market transparency on Global, Regional and Local basis, to ensure long-term, cost-effective supply of materials (Make or Buy)

Pooling and Supplier Optimizations

• Drive the Execution of Purchasing Strategies and ensure the ideal balance of Competition and Pooling to achieve best total value contribution
• Optimize number of suppliers. Sustainable reduction of purchasing prices in consideration of functional, total cost and quality aspects in coordination with Category Management

Alignment

• Global, Regional, and Local Purchasing strategies between the Operations Center, Regional Sourcing, Category, and Internal Customers to ensure transparency in the purchasing process and highest overall outcome
• Develop and sustain relationships with key internal customers

Supplier Relationship Management

• Promote Strategic Suppliers based on requirements and considering Purchasing Strategies. Drive the implementation of favorable negotiated prices, terms and conditions
• Supplier management to ensure an ideal supply chain and cooperation with suppliers
• Supplier selection and supplier evaluation to optimize the existing supplier panel

Contracts

• Increase the number of favorable Price and Framework Agreements in legal, logistical, commercial and technical terms (Requirement Books, Specifications, Standards) in close alignment with stakeholders and steer the implementation
• Contract and price negotiations as contribute to the profitability of the company
• Implement requests for quotations including offers evaluation as well as creating and updating frame contracts and catalogs

Sourcing

• Work with internal customers on the sourcing of products and services based on defined spend limits and corporate policies.  Identify, initiate, accompany and tender Projects in cooperation with Category Managers and Internal Customers (i.e. Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Operations, EHS, Facility Management, Controlling, Corporate Functions)
• Consulting and Support of technical departments within the scope of procurement questions to achieve saving targets
• Show / implement alternative sources of supply and ensuring of synergies by bundling of volumes

KPI's

• Implement and track relevant KPI´s according to the Corporate Targets & KPI settings
• Reporting of saving results in the Indirect Saving Tool - "IST" (KPI reporting)

New Vendor Creation

• Submit requests and follow up with Master Data Administrator 

Accounts Payable

• Support issues with Accounting, Regional Operations Center and Category Purchasing

Compliance

• Ensure Compliance with Business Partner Code of Conduct, Continental Ethics and Values and all Corporate Guidelines
• Ensure necessary transparency and documentation of sourcing decisions according to compliance guidelines (e.g. Sourcing Decision Sheet)

• Lead and support cross-functional improvement projects representing Group Purchasing Indirect Materials
• Flexibility to lead and support special projects on demand

• Academic degree in Business Administration or comparable qualifications
• Several years of experience in Purchasing function and/or respective material groups
• Ability to work independently and highly self-motivated
• Excellent teamwork spirit and flexibility
• Strong negotiation, persuasion and communication skillset
• Inter-cultural experience (working in different countries or with international teams)
• Experience with Continental Business Systems desirable
• Business fluent English and German language skills (written and spoken)
• Willingness to travel 

Applications from severely handicapped people are welcome.

The well-being of our employees is important to us. That's why we offer exciting career prospects and support you in achieving a good work-life balance with additional benefits such as:

• Training opportunities
• Mobile and flexible working models
• Sabbaticals
• and much more...

Sounds interesting for you? Click here to find out more.

You are looking for an individual working time model? We support part-time work.

Diversity creates value for a better tomorrow. We offer equal opportunities to everyone - regardless of age, gender, nationality, cultural background, disability, religion, ideology or sexual orientation.

Ready to drive with Continental? Take the first step and fill in the online application.

Ready to drive with Continental? Take the first step and fill in the online application.

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2024, Continental generated sales of €39.7 billion and currently employs around 190,000 people in 55 countries and markets.

The Automotive group sector comprises technologies for passive safety, brake, chassis, motion and motion control systems. Innovative solutions for assisted and automated driving, display and operating technologies, as well as audio and camera solutions for the vehicle interior, are also part of the portfolio, as is intelligent information and communication technology for the mobility services of fleet operators and commercial vehicle manufacturers. Comprehensive activities relating to connectivity technologies, vehicle electronics and high-performance computers round off the range of products and services.