Strategic Material Buyer

About the role

The Strategic Material Buyer will manage the full procurement cycle for critical raw materials, ensuring competitive pricing, reliable supply and high quality. This role works closely with production, engineering and finance to align material availability with manufacturing needs.

Key responsibilities

• Manage end‑to‑end procurement for assigned raw materials, from sourcing and RFQ/RFP through negotiation, contracting and delivery.
• Develop and implement strategic sourcing strategies for raw material categories.
• Identify, evaluate and qualify new suppliers and alternative sources.
• Lead commercial negotiations covering price, payment terms, lead times and contractual terms.
• Establish and manage framework agreements and long‑term supplier contracts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic raw material suppliers, including international partners.
• Monitor raw material markets, pricing trends and cost drivers to identify optimization opportunities.
• Conduct total cost of ownership (TCO) and market analyses and lead cost‑saving initiatives.
• Monitor supplier performance on quality, delivery, capacity and reliability.
• Identify and mitigate supplier, material availability and commercial risks to ensure continuity of supply.

Required profile

• University degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Economics, Engineering, Chemistry or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in strategic procurement or sourcing, preferably in petrochemical, chemical, process or manufacturing industries.
• Proven experience with raw materials procurement and end‑to‑end purchasing processes.
• Experience in supplier qualification, RFQ/RFP processes and commercial negotiations.
• Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills.
• Fluent English, written and spoken.
• Strategic and analytical mindset with proactive, results‑oriented approach.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.

Required skills

• SAP or other ERP/procurement systems
• Experience with RFQ/RFP processes and commercial negotiations