BE GREAT TOGETHER WITH US.

Innovation, Efficiency and Ambition: this is what VAT has stood for over 50 years. 

With this passion, VAT has grown to become the leading international developer, manufacturer and supplier of high-performance high-end vacuum valves and vacuum sealing technology, employing over 2000 people worldwide.  The headquarters are located in Haag (Switzerland), the production centers in Switzerland, Malaysia, Romania and Taiwan. 

Reporting directly to the Head of Strategic Sourcing, your main responsibilities include being accountable for leading and developing the regional category management team, and driving aggressive regional supply chain capacity expansion. As well as enhancing the organisation's category portfolio, driving portfolio optimization and pricing strategy improvements.

You will also be involved in supporting supply chain operations such as handling escalation.

You are expected to have excellent communication skills & presentation skills to manage both internal and external stakeholders. This is a People Management role with regional responsibilities and global cross functional management.

Your responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Driving & Improving the supplier performance, strategize the sourcing for 5-years growth in Best Cost Country “BCC” by meeting the product cost target, increase supplier capacity, and strategic sourcing.
• Aligning & Executing global sourcing strategies for various categories.
• Be the preferred business partner to key stakeholders in business team (Business Units, Engineering, etc.) and Operations team (Supplier Quality, Production, Materials Management etc) to understand the requirements including make vs. buy decisions.
• Drive the category team to sustain the Global Category Management Operating Model and provide the supply capability and capacity at best cost to support the company’s future business needs and protection of brand value.
• Develop organizational capability to provide support for supplier engagement processes.
• Application of aligned sourcing processes, sustainable supplier assessments and development approach, a performing and regulatory compliant supply base footprint shall be established and actively managed, contributing to the enhancement of the supply base performance on Quality, Delivery and Cost (QCD).
• Develop strategies to make sure that cost savings and supplier performance targets are met or exceeded, by leading the team to realize a measurable value >3% in recurring and P&L (Profit & Loss) effective cost reductions per year across the global 3rd party spend in the assigned spend categories accompanied by a leveraged and benchmarked supply base management.
• Grow and develop a qualified and performing BCC Supply Base in line with the companies and operations BCC objectives Asia and manage a sustainable spend allocation.
• Providing forward-looking guidance on trends, threats and opportunities in various categories & Actively monitors and performs a supply base risk assessment.
• Embracing change, possessing a continuous improvement mindset, has a passion for exceeding company and customer expectations.
• Create policies and procedures for risk management and mitigation.
• Partner with legal to ensure proper forms of Agreement are utilized, contractor conformance with the terms and conditions of the Agreements, and refinement of Agreements as required.

Minimum Qualification:

• Bachelor’s / Master degree or equivalent work experience in Sourcing / Procurement / Mechanical Engineering.
• 10+ years in-depth strategic and operational sourcing experience with a solid working knowledge of global category management.
• Working experience within a global complex organization.
• Builds strong and successful strategic supplier partnerships. Coaches and develop team and provides regular feedback and guidance.
• Capable of dealing in high stress environment, balancing operational and strategic priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Hands-on attitude, strong leadership, influence and communication as well as the ability to partner with a wide range of organizations and interact regularly with senior management.
• Financial skills to assess the total cost of dealing with a supplier.
• Able to foresee problems and works on the solutions proactively.
• Good interpersonal and negotiating skills to build effective working relationships with supply partners, functional leaders and the client.
• Able to get results through others, able to multi-task, sense of priority, able to handle stress levels.
• Flexible, resourceful and proactive individual, able to produce results under tight deadlines.

Preferred Qualification:

• Preferable experience in high precision machining industries.
• Candidate must be a strong people manager, able to make informed decisions and manage detail and risk.
• Strong management and organizational skills to build teamwork and collaboration.
• Strong analytical skills (risk based) and goal-driven thinking. Focus on the essential facts, with the ability to present results clearly and compellingly.
• Excellent verbal/written communication and presentation skills. And comfortable in presenting at supplier business reviews and with stakeholders.

VAT is an equal opportunity employer. We see ourselves as a responsible and far-sighted employer that offers not only jobs, but also career and personal development opportunities through various training programs. We recognize the value of employee diversity and provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified application that contributes to innovation, improves customer orientation and employee satisfaction. One-step in this direction is to ensure that people are recognized and fairly compensated for their contributions to the company. In 2021, VAT received the Fair-ON-Pay+ certificate as an acknowledgement for our commitment in ensuring equal pay for equal work between men and women.