Global Lead Buyer & Regional Coordinator – Raw Materials Purchasing

THE COMPANY

Continental
is a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist. Founded in 1871, the company generated sales of €19.7 billion in 2025 and currently employs around 78,000 people in 54 countries and markets.

Tire solutions from the
Tires group sector
make mobility safer, smarter, and more sustainable. Its premium portfolio encompasses car, truck, bus, two-wheel, and specialty tires as well as smart solutions and services for fleets and tire retailers. Continental has been delivering top performance for more than 150 years and is one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers. In fiscal 2025, the Tires group sector generated sales of 13.8 billion euros.

Continental's tire division employs more than 56,000 people worldwide and has 19 production and 16 development sites.

• Develop and implement commodity strategies aligned with Corporate Purchasing
• Lead global and regional negotiations, RFQs, contract awards, and implementation
• Secure short- and long-term supply at competitive total cost, quality, and innovation standards
• Conduct market and cost modeling analysis to support sourcing decisions and identify cost reduction and value creation initiatives

• Ensure uninterrupted supply ofraw materials for planned production across assigned global and regional portfolios
• Support forecasting, budgeting, material planning, and inventory optimization to meet inventory targets and KPIs
• Monitor supply chain for efficiency opportunities and partner with Logistics, R&D, Finance, and Manufacturing

• Manage assigned global and regional supplier relationships, including performance reviews and executive engagement
• Source, evaluate, onboard, and develop new suppliers within assigned material cluster
• Drive Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) including segmentation and rationalization
• Lead quality issue resolution and escalation management in alignment with stakeholders
• Monitor and ensure communication offorecaststo suppliers

• Monitor macroeconomic and commodity market developments (feedstock trends, FX rates, inflation, regulatory changes, industry demand, regulations, market trends etc)
• Identify sourcing risks and opportunities
• Exchange regularly with Regional Management and Corporate Purchasing
• Support sustainability, compliance, and corporate initiatives (eg conflict minerals, environmental programs)

• Serve as regional ambassador for Corporate Purchasing strategy and support plant purchasing teams on sourcing strategies
• Partner with R&D, Manufacturing, Logistics, Finance, Quality, Legal, and ISCM (Inbound Supply Chain Management) to drive value and operational excellence
• Coordinate activities within the regional raw material cluster and represent Procurement in management forums

• Maintain material and supplier databases as needed forprice tracking, and procurement systems (SAP, sourcing tools, savings trackers)
• Report savings, action plans, performance metrics, and provide input on raw material costs for P&L rollup and budgeting
• Ensure compliance with all company and Corporate Purchasing policies

• Participate in audits and assessments to ensure quality supply standards
• Travel approximately 20- 30% (international included)
• Execute projects as assigned

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management or related field
• 5+ years of professional experience (3+ preferred in procurement, buying, sales, or supply chain management)
• Strong analytical and…