Sr. Strategic Buyer

Sr. Strategic Buyer

Permanent

About Heraeus

Making displays foldable? Helping hearts beat with medical innovations? Or breathing new life into precious metals? As a family-owned global technology group we help our customers to always being one step ahead.

About Heraeus Covantics

We are one of the leading materials specialists in the production and processing of high-purity quartz glass and other high-quality materials such as ceramics and innovative composites. With a global team of over 2,000 employees and locations in Europe, the USA, and Asia, we specialize in manufacturing semi-finished products, complex system components, and customized solutions for the information and telecommunications industry, the production of specialty fibers for industrial and medical applications, semiconductor manufacturing, and optics.
In our company, you can expect an innovation-driven work environment, global teamwork, and the opportunity to take an active role in social and environmental responsibility. Become part of our team and shape the future with us!

Heraeus Quartz North America LLC, has an immediate opening for a Sr. Strategic Buyer to join our team in Buford, GA. The Sr. Strategic Buyer is responsible for the strategic procurement of materials and services that support Heraeus facilities and operations. This role develops and executes category strategies, leads supplier negotiations, drives total-cost improvements, and partners with business stakeholders to strengthen supply, quality, cash, and procurement performance.

The position works across the organization and with international colleagues in a matrix environment. It also supports project procurement, procurement efficiency initiatives, data quality, and continuous improvement across HQNA procurement activities.

Your Role and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute category strategies for assigned categories, including market analysis, supplier portfolios, sourcing priorities and strategic procurement of BOM and non-BOM materials, Capex, building and construction, and related services.
• Drive continuous cost reduction, cost avoidance and cash improvements on category level through total-cost-of-ownership analysis and value-creation initiatives.
• Lead comprehensive sourcing and contracting activities, including RFI/RFQ processes, negotiations of frame agreements, commercial evaluations and contract follow-up.
• Lead strategic supplier negotiations in alignment with direct superiors and the Regional Head of Procurement, ensuring robust commercial outcomes and sustainable supplier relationships.
• Provide leadership and governance for project procurement initiatives, including capital expenditure procurement and cross-functional sourcing projects.
• Partner with business stakeholders to challenge specifications, identify cross-business collaboration opportunities and evaluate make-or-buy decisions.
• Align with key stakeholders across business lines, Innovation, Heads of Procurement, Regional Procurement Management, the procurement community and other central and shared functions.
• Manage suppliers across the lifecycle, including supplier qualification, onboarding, master-data additions, relationship management, supplier performance and supplier risk management.
• Manage contracts and procurement data, including contract-data entry in SAP and a Heraeus owned contract tool, uploads, data quality management and data-cleansing initiatives.
• Create purchase orders and follow up on the end-to-end PO and contract process, including delivery, timing, quality and service performance.
• Support escalation management in case of timing, quality or service issues in accordance with the applicable escalation scheme.
• Support procurement efficiency, community and continuous-improvement initiatives across HQNA procurement functions.
• Promote a safety-first mindset and comply with Heraeus safety, environmental, security, and Code of Conduct requirements.

What Is Required for the Role:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, procurement, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Three to five years of experience in strategic procurement, sourcing, or category management.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing category strategies for materials and/or services.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, critical-thinking, and business judgment skills.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including the ability to evaluate total cost and procurement opportunities.
• Experience working with ERP and procurement systems, such as SAP, and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Ability to analyze markets, suppliers, contracts, specifications, and business data and translate findings into sound recommendations.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, work independently, meet deadlines, and take ownership of results.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with employees and leaders at all levels.
• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, initiative, reliability, attention to detail, and commitment to teamwork.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 20%.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with capital expenditure procurement.
• Experience working with international colleagues or customers in a matrix organization.
• Experience with standardized procurement tools, such as supplier relationship management, category management, benefits tracking, and procurement analytics platforms.
• Experience mentoring colleagues or leading cross-functional teams or projects.