EU Purchasing Director

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and strategic EU Purchasing Director to lead and develop our purchasing organization across Europe. This is a key leadership role responsible for defining and executing procurement strategies that support business growth, improve supplier performance, optimize costs, and ensure supply chain resilience.

The successful candidate will be a commercially driven leader with extensive experience in strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, and cross-functional collaboration within an international environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the European purchasing strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Lead, coach, and develop purchasing teams across our European locations.
• Build and maintain strong strategic relationships with key suppliers.
• Drive cost optimization initiatives while maintaining quality, service, and sustainability standards.
• Lead contract negotiations for strategic suppliers and high-value agreements.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks through proactive supplier and sourcing strategies.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Engineering, Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain teams.
• Monitor market trends, raw material developments, and supplier capabilities.
• Establish procurement KPIs and ensure continuous performance improvement.
• Promote compliance with company policies, ethical sourcing standards, and relevant regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field. Master's degree is considered an advantage.
• 5+ years of progressive procurement experience, including senior leadership responsibilities.
• Proven experience leading international purchasing organizations within Europe.
• Strong negotiation, strategic sourcing, and supplier management skills.
• Experience working in a manufacturing and/or industrial environment is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken. Additional European languages are an advantage.
• Willingness to travel across Europe as required.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen.
• Results-oriented and capable of driving organizational change.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Excellent decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.