Strategic Sourcing Manager

About VAT Group

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world’s leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We are guided by our passions: integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation – always working together as #oneVAT.

Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.

The Strategic Sourcing Manager (Direct Materials) is responsible for developing and implementing global sourcing strategies to strengthen VAT’s supply base capabilities, capacity and readiness in support of the company’s strong growth and expansion.Reporting to the Head of Category Management, the role works closely with cross-functional stakeholders across Business Units, Engineering, Operations, Supplier Quality, Production and Materials Management to achieve key business objectives across Quality, Delivery and Cost (QDC).

The role requires strong strategic thinking and the ability to develop, communicate and execute commodity strategies across the organization, ensuring sourcing decisions and strategic supplier selections are aligned with VAT’s technology roadmap, product development and long-term business requirements. The position has end-to-end category ownership, including sourcing strategy, supplier performance, capacity planning, supplier development and strategic relationship management.

Your responsibilities include, but not limited to - 

• Develop and execute global sourcing strategies for assigned Direct Materials categories, including Machining (e.g. High Precision), Treatment (e.g. Ultra Cleaning / Anodizing), E&E Parts and other strategic categories.Act as a strategic business partner to key stakeholders across Business Units, Engineering, Operations, Supplier Quality, Production and Materials Management.
• Drive and sustain the Global Category Management Operating Model, ensuring the supply base has the required capability, capacity, resilience and competitiveness to support VAT’s future business needs while protecting brand value.
• Own and manage assigned categories and the related category team, including capacity, capability, knowledge management, supplier performance and development.
• Establish and actively manage a qualified, sustainable and regulatory-compliant supply base, applying standardized sourcing processes, supplier assessment and development methodologies.
• Drive continuous improvement of the global supply base performance across Quality, Delivery and Cost (QDC) while ensuring appropriate supply risk management and business continuity.
• Develop strategic supplier relationships and ensure supplier capabilities and investments are aligned with VAT’s long-term growth, technology and capacity requirements.
• Deliver measurable, recurring and P&L-effective cost savings of >3% annually across the assigned global third-party spend categories through strategic sourcing, cost optimization, benchmarking and supply base leverage.
• Develop and expand a qualified and high-performing Best Cost Country (BCC) supply base in alignment with company and Operations BCC objectives in Asia, while ensuring sustainable and optimized spend allocation.
• Own category-specific objectives covering cost optimization, supply base optimization, geographic sourcing footprint and Best Cost Country Sourcing.
• Provide forward-looking strategic guidance on market trends, technology developments, capacity constraints, supply risks and sourcing opportunities, and proactively manage category and supply base risk.
• Drive bottom-up alignment of the Direct Materials Category Team with the company’s strategic objectives and business priorities.
• Lead and influence cross-functional and supplier stakeholders to achieve sourcing, capacity, quality, delivery and cost objectives.
• Embrace change and demonstrate a continuous improvement mindset, with a strong drive to exceed company and customer expectations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or above in Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering Science or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of solid strategic and operational sourcing experience, with strong working knowledge of Global Category Management.
• Proven experience in global sourcing, supplier development, strategic negotiations, cost management and supply base optimization.
• Strong analytical and risk-based problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify essential facts, translate data into insights and present results clearly and convincingly.
• Experience working within a global and complex organization, preferably in a manufacturing or technology-driven environment.
• Strong interpersonal, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with suppliers, colleagues and senior internal stakeholders.
• Self-motivated and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a global team.
• Strong execution and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and achieve results through others.
• Able to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure and demonstrate sound business judgment.
• Excellent English communication skills; German and/or Chinese language skills would be an advantage.

Our commitment to inclusion, fairness and equal opportunities

We believe in meaningful careers, continuous learning, and equal opportunities for everyone to drive our innovation and success. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. If you have concerns, our compliance channel is available at our website. All reports are handled with strict confidentiality and in accordance with our Code of Conduct.