Procurement Manager Germany
Job description
Nippon Gases is one of the leading companies in the industrial and medical gases business in Europe. Serving over 150,000 customers and 350,000 patients across 13 countries, we offer a comprehensive range of gas-based solutions tailored to sectors including healthcare, food, electronics, manufacturing, chemicals, electronics, and energy among many others.
We are hiring for our European Procurement department a Procurement Manager who will be responsible for leading all strategic, tactical and operational activities for Procurement in our Central Easter Region (Germany and Poland). The resource will lead a team of procurement professionals who are responsible for strategically leading category sourcing of complex commodities at regional level with a direct report to European Procurement Director and functionally to regional Managing Director.
The role provides high value procurement solutions to the business and category strategies; support third party vendor selection, vendor development, technology management and performance measurement activities to support projects and to realize year-on-year productivity improvements, cost savings, and process improvements in close collaboration with the stakeholders in the business.
Main Responsibilities:
The role is intended to build and execute the strategy over regional categories in alignment with internal customers and stakeholders as well overall European Procurement strategy, including contracts and overall SRM (Supplier relationship Management).
The main responsibilities will be:
- Execute at regional level the strategy for European categories led by European category managers, ensuring full alignment and developing proposals.
- Embrace and promote the digital transformation in regional procurement in alignment with European Procurement Center of Excellence strategy and ensuring a smooth transition from transactional and tactical to strategic approach of the function.
- Act as the «single point of contact» for regional Procurement between regional and European organization
- Ensure full alignment and execution at regional level of European strategy both in terms of category management and digital transformation.
- Professional and disciplinary management as well as further development of the purchasing team.
- Achieving results by proactively building long-term, sustainable and effective relationships, understanding the stakeholder landscape and demonstrating political astuteness across business structures and networks. Implementing category or commodity strategies to optimize business efficiency.
- Mapping the regional value chain, analyzing it and deriving potential scenarios. Understanding and application of total cost of ownership and cost modelling.
- Reshape the regional organization while managing the transition from transactional and tactical to strategic.
- Ensure orders are entered timely and complete of T&C’s / contract coverage in accordance with business requirements and EU contract if existing.
- Lead the Purchase Order (PO) approval process for regional purchase.
- Optimization of operating and investment costs in the context of tenders and contract negotiations.
- Analysis of market trends, business activities and competitive conditions to support procurement decisions and the further development of the supplier network.
- Developing and monitoring key performance indicators and service level agreements to assess supplier performance and ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions.
- Strategic further development of purchasing with the aim of reducing procurement risks, cutting costs and optimizing internal processes.
- Stakeholders and Internal Customers management.
- Set clear targets in accordance with regional goals (savings, process performances, etc)
- Regularly engaging stakeholders in the procurement strategy to ensure a better decision-making.
- Re-think local transactional processes aiming digitalization and «one click» purchase in alignment with the European Center of Excellence.
- Consolidate and provide monthly savings to Productivity team and EU Procurement.
- Identify and develop regional KPI’s to measure performance, both over categories and process wise.
Job requirements
Academic background:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering or related field.
- MBA or other master’s degree would be a plus.
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years of experience in Procurement or other related experience in equivalent industries.
- Experienced negotiator with advanced knowledge of Procurement and tendering processes, very good financial background to understand cost structure and project profitability and basic legal knowledge.
- Extensive experience of managing KPIs, dashboards and reports (including tools)
- Experienced at working in a global organization with multicultural team members.
Languages:
Fluent written and spoken German and English.
Competencies:
- Excellent planning, project management and organizational skills to consistently meet deadlines.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent analytical and strategic thinking abilities.
- Proactive and solution-oriented way of working with a willingness to actively shape change
Location:
The position will be based in Madrid or Milan.
Availability to travel within Europe.
Why join Nippon Gases?
At Nippon Gases, we’re a reliable partner for key industries, combining global expertise with a local touch to make a real difference. Guided by our commitment to sustainability, we drive innovation through cutting-edge technology and a strong R&D network. Here, you’ll have the autonomy to own your career, with the chance to work on projects that impact communities and shape a carbon-neutral future.
Discover a place where you’ll play a key role in solutions that power major industries and make a difference in everyday life. At Nippon Gases, our technologies support countless essential processes — often behind the scenes — that keep food fresh, enhance electronic chip production, purify water, and provide critical respiratory treatments. With a solid, diversified presence across Europe, we’re a reliable and stable company dedicated to constant innovation and to creating a healthier, more sustainable future.
Being part of The Gas Professionals will lead you to:
Think beyond the visible to explore and develop new solutions for a sustainable tomorrow.
Move and challenge yourself with the support of a collaborative team and inspiring leaders.
Grow amplify your talent to its fullest potential, reaching as far as you aim.
What we offer:
- Remuneration and Benefits : We offer a range of bonuses, long-term incentives, competitive salaries, which we review each year to remain competitive in the market. In addition, we have a wide range of benefits as a company, you can choose what suits you best: childcare, transport card, pension plan, sports package, health insurance, etc.
- Worklife balance : We have 26 days off a year! Plus, the 24th and 31st of December.
- Flexible schedule : you'll have the freedom to adjust your work hours to accommodate your personal needs and responsibilities.
- Home Office Policy : With our hybrid work plan, you can enjoy working from the comfort of your home.
- Diversity and inclusion : Be part of an inclusive, diverse culture, where everyone’s contribution is respected. A place where individual talent is recognised and nurtured.
- Sustainability : We enable a carbon neutral world. Nippon Gases spearheads the efforts to achieving zero CO2 emissions by helping industries in transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
- Safety first : We create a safe environment where our employees can thrive. In the past two decades, we have been honored 17 times as the safest company in Europe by the Industrial Gases Association (EIGA).
About Us
Nippon Gases is one of the leading companies in the industrial and medical gases business in Europe. We service more than 150,000 customers and have a diversified involvement in broad industries such as healthcare, food, manufacturing, metallurgy, chemical products, electronics and energy. We aim to create social value through innovative gas solutions that increase industrial productivity, enhance human well-being and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Making life better through gas technology.
What can you expect from us?
We are an industrial company in which safety and integrity come first, as it could not be otherwise. We bet on the talent of each of our employees, creating opportunities for development and learning, as well as offering an environment of personal conciliation. Our employees are the key to achieve high customer satisfaction and be, day by day, your choice. We have a high commitment to society and respect for the environment. These values make us a great company with solid and continuous financial results.
Equal Opportunity Employment Policy
Nippon Gases is a company committed to equality and promotes an inclusive work environment free of any type of discrimination and harassment. We believe that the diversity of talent strengthens and increases our success. We have equality policies that guarantee employability and increase opportunities for all candidates.
