Strategic Buyer

Join Us in Empowering Access to Robotic Surgery

At Distalmotion, we believe patients deserve best-in-class minimally invasive care. Our mission is to empower access to the benefits of robotic surgery. The DEXTER® Robotic Surgery System uniquely simplifies operations so more surgeons, in more ORs, can provide the benefits of robotics to more patients.

Whether in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), or traditional operating rooms, we are enabling more healthcare providers to deliver high-quality care by offering surgeons the choice to provide the best treatments to their patients.

We are a global MedTech company driven by Excellence, Thinking Big, a Can-Do mindset, Care, and Trust. These values guide our work as we develop solutions that remove barriers to robotic surgery access.

If you’re passionate about improving healthcare and want to be part of a highly innovative and exciting journey, join us in bringing novel solutions to market and expanding access to robotic surgery.

About Strategic Buyer:

The Strategic Buyer is responsible for leading strategic category management for various subcategories and will report to the Head of Strategic Sourcing within our Global Supply Chain organization. This role blends strategic sourcing, operational procurement and project-based sourcing activities in a fast-paced environment. The Strategic Buyer will play a key role in our strategic sourcing journey to ensure a successful scale-up of the company. The ideal candidate will have a technical or engineering background and will preferably bring experience from medical device and/or automotive industries, where quality, precision, and regulatory compliance are paramount.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Procurement

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with company goals (cost, quality, innovation, and sustainability).
• Identify, evaluate, and develop new suppliers globally, ensuring technical and quality requirements are met.
• Manage complex request for quotations.
• Negotiate long-term contracts, pricing agreements, and supplier development plans.
• Identify cost savings opportunities, maintain a pipeline of opportunities and implement them.
• Conduct market analysis, benchmark studies, and risk assessments to optimize the supply base.

Operational Buying

• Manage day-to-day procurement activities, including order placement, delivery tracking, and supplier performance monitoring, and invoice discrepancies.
• Ensure continuity of supply to meet production and project schedules.
• Maintain accurate procurement data within ERP system.

Project Procurement

• Act as a procurement lead in cross-functional product development or industrialization projects.
• Support new product development (NPD) by ensuring timely sourcing of prototypes and production materials (long lead items).
• Drive early supplier involvement to optimize design-to-cost and manufacturability.
• Manage sourcing activities for project-specific equipment, tooling, and components.

Supplier Management

• Foster strong supplier relationships through regular business reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate supplier performance against key metrics (quality, cost, delivery, innovation, sustainability).
• Conduct Top-to-Top meetings with supplier senior leadership (Executive Business Review and/or escalations).

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with R&D, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, Project Managers, Finance, Legal and Regulatory Affairs.
• Participate actively in project meetings, design reviews, and risk management discussions.
• Ensure procurement activities align with company’s quality systems (e.g., ISO 13485).
• Improve procurement processes and/or drive procurement excellence.

Work Experience and Education requirements:

• 3–5+ years of procurement experience, preferably in the medical device and/or automotive industries.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or related technical field is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities required:

• Technical background with solid understanding of technical drawings, specifications, and manufacturing processes (SMT, electronics, machining, plastic injection...).
• Experience with project management and working in cross-functional project teams.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and supplier relationship management skills.
• Familiarity with regulated environments (ISO 13485, FDA, IATF 16949) is highly advantageous.
• ERP system experience.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken); French and other languages are a plus.
• Ability to travel occasionally to suppliers (domestic and international- 10-20%).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and capable of handling multiple priorities.
• Team player with a proactive and hands-on attitude.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work in a fast-growing company active in one of the most promising fields of medicine.

• A dynamic atmosphere in an internationally minded environment.
• Permanent contract with 25 days of paid vacation.
• Attractive talent development programs and initiatives empowering employees to enhance their skills and fostering professional development growth.
• Mobility plan, competitive company pension plan, support for gym memberships.
• Regular team building events such as boot camps, skiing and much more.

Distalmotion is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees.

Distalmotion is a medical device company founded and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was founded in 2012, as a spin-off from the Robotics Lab of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). We are all united by the same goal - to empower more surgeons and hospitals to deliver the benefits of robotic surgery to more patients. We can only do this with the right people in our team. Apply now and be part of the mission to bring patients the best in minimally invasive care.

For further information visit: and follow us on /: @Distalmotion.