Director Strategic Procurement

Responsibilities / Tasks

This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of a newly established team of six Strategic Buyers covering both Direct and Indirect Procurement and play a pivotal role in building a mature, high-performing Strategic Procurement function. You will have a significant impact on our business by developing supplier strategies, driving cost optimization initiatives, and strengthening collaboration across internal and external stakeholders.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead and develop the Strategic Procurement team, including coaching, mentoring, and capability building.
• Develop and implement category strategies for both Direct and Indirect spend in alignment with overall GEA procurement strategies.
• Own and develop relationships with external suppliers and internal GEA workshops.
• Drive supplier development with focus on technical capabilities, quality, delivery performance, sustainability, and cost competitiveness.
• Lead contract negotiations and commercial agreements across global supplier markets.
• Drive supplier innovation in collaboration with R&D and business stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance, governance, and sustainability requirements are embedded in supplier relationships.
• Lead cross-functional procurement initiatives and secure alignment on sourcing priorities.

Your Profile / Qualifications

To succeed in this role, you bring both strategic leadership capabilities and a strong procurement background. We imagine that you have:

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience within Strategic Procurement.
• At least 5 years of people leadership experience.
• A proven track record of developing and maturing Strategic Procurement functions.
• Strong experience in supplier management, contract negotiations, and global sourcing.
• Strong financial acumen and change management capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust across functions and organizational levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities combined with a strategic mindset.
• Fluency in English; additional language skills are considered an advantage.

As a person, you are a results-oriented leader who influences through collaboration rather than control. You communicate with authenticity, lead change with empathy, and know how to create alignment around ambitious goals.

Would you like to know more?

If you would like to find out more about this position before submitting your application, please contact Sr. Procurement & Supply Chain Director, Lars Holm-Pedersen, at +45 2834 2708.

We will process the applications as we receive them, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Please apply via the indicated link. Note that GEA exclusively uses electronic recruiting, and only applications received through our application system will be considered.

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