Director Purchasing

Your responsibilities and tasks

The purpose of this role is to lead the local Procurement organization, ensuring alignment with global and regional category strategies, optimizing performance, and driving transformation across processes, tools, and capabilities.

This is a strategic role with a long-term planning horizon (3–5 years) that contributes to corporate strategy through the implementation of new processes and standards, supports decision‑making, and enables cost, cash, and productivity improvements.

• Ensure alignment with Global/Regional Category Teams, BU Heads of Procurement, and Legal Entity leadership for implementation of direct and indirect category strategies.
• Support the definition of the local procurement strategy and drive execution in coordination with Category Teams.
• Provide strategic input to category teams for the overall procurement strategy.

• Lead and develop the local procurement team, balancing daily operations, project activities, and strategic initiatives.
• Manage capacity conflicts between local needs and category‑led requirements.
• Track performance and target achievement of direct reports.
• Collaborate with other site/team leads to optimize resource allocation and support specialization.

• Accountable for local procurement performance and primary interface for Regional/Division/BU stakeholders.
• Ensure adherence to procurement processes and policies in line with global standards.
• Drive cost efficiency, spend and demand reduction, and productivity improvements.
• Escalate resource or target conflicts to Category Managers and BU Procurement Managers.
• Identify opportunities for automation, digitalization, and tool enhancement.
• Develop and implement procurement activities related to transformation initiatives.
• Introduce new processes and standards and continuously optimize procurement KPIs and workflows.

• Procurement & Supply Chain (Divisions, BUs)
• Sales, Budget Owners
• Category Managers (direct & indirect)
• Strategic & Operational Buyers
• Division and Country Leaders
• Ethics, Legal & Compliance

What sets you up for success:

• University degree in Economics or Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Strong experience in procurement processes.
• Profound know how of international contract management.
• Experience implementing corporate procurement frameworks.
• Background in complex matrix and centralized organizations.
• Strong project management capabilities.
• Negotiation experience across the global supplier markets.
• Systems knowledge:
  Ariba, S2P, SAP.

Bonus points if you have...

• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Ability to build networks and manage relationships.
• Broad international business understanding.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and strategic thinking abilities.
• High ownership and accountability.
• Strong communication and executive presence.
• Expertise in services, delivery, negotiation, contract and project management.
• Strong commercial and analytical mindset.

GEA is one of the largest suppliers for the food and beverage processing industry and a wide range of other process industries. Approximately 18,000 employees in more than 60 countries contribute significantly to GEA’s success – come and join them! We offer interesting and challenging tasks, a positive working environment in international teams and opportunities for personal development and growth in a global company.

GEA is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will therefore receive consideration for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, world view, national origin, genetics, disability, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected characteristic required by applicable law. Applicants with disabilities are welcome and will be given special consideration if they are equally qualified.

• Strategic Buyer