Purchasing Professional

Knorr-Bremse•Springfield, MO

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Technical Purchasing Professional is responsible for sourcing and managing a defined supplier and product portfolio, ensuring the availability of cost-effective, high-quality components that support business objectives. This role drives supplier selection, contract negotiations, commodity strategy implementation, and cost optimization initiatives while working closely with Engineering, Operations, Commodity Management, and Central Purchasing. As this position is crucial to our daily operations, ensuring seamless material availability is key to our success.

Requirements

Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related technical field from a University of Applied Sciences, Technical University, or equivalent practical experience. Alternatively, extensive technical and purchasing experience in a relevant industrial environment.
Several years of professional experience in technical purchasing, strategic sourcing, or supplier management within an industrial or manufacturing environment is considered a strong advantage.
Strong background in operative work (ordering, manage supplier escalations, missing parts management)
Experience managing complex supplier negotiations and sourcing projects.
Proven track record in cost optimization and supplier development initiatives.
Strong understanding of operative procurement, technical products, manufacturing processes, and supply chain management principles.
Experience in strategic sourcing, supplier evaluation, contract management, and purchasing strategy development.
Knowledge of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) methodologies and cost analysis techniques.
SAP MM / PP and/or SAP S/4HANA knowledge is considered an advantage.
Strong analytical and commercial mindset with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Have a good understanding of BaBa (Build America, Buy America Act), experience in standardization (i.e. UL / IEEE).
Results-oriented and proactive working style.
Adept at prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced daily business environment.
Strong decision-making and problem-solving capabilities.
High level of assertiveness and negotiation confidence.
Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Team-oriented, collaborative, and capable of working in an international environment.
Hands-on, with the ability to work according to procedures.
Willingness to travel as required.
Training in Austria
All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for current or future employment-based visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

Source new and existing components for a defined supplier and product portfolio, ensuring quality, cost, delivery, and performance requirements are met.
Ensuring seamless material availability and on-time delivery for production.
Evaluate and select suppliers based on competitiveness, technical capabilities, quality standards, capacity, and long-term strategic fit.
Lead contract, pricing, and logistics negotiations with suppliers, focusing on achieving the best Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Track and analyze supplier KPIs, driving continuous improvement initiatives and ensuring sustainable supplier performance.
Develop and implement local commodity strategies in close cooperation with Commodity Management and Central Purchasing.
Provide technical purchasing support during component selection processes and make-or-buy decisions.
Identify, plan, and realize cost-saving opportunities and value engineering initiatives in collaboration with Commodity Management and internal stakeholders.
Collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, Production, Logistics, and Finance to ensure alignment across the supply chain.

Benefits

medical, dental, vision, and basic life and disability insurance
company’s 401k plan
120 hours of vacation leave
40 hours of Personal Paid Absence
12 paid holidays
1 floating holiday
6 weeks of paid parental leave
flexible working time models
professional and personal development opportunities
sports and health care programmes
annual bonuses based on achievement of certain metrics of up to 4% of annual salary