Senior Director - Purchasing U.S.

GEA • Romeoville, IL

2d

About The Position

GEA Group is seeking a Senior Director of Purchasing to lead procurement strategy and activities for its local Food & Te ch (FT) organization and the GEA U.S. and Latin American (LAM) markets. The role is responsible for direct and indirect procurement, including support for the LAM Hygiene site, and will support approximately $125 million in annual purchases across the U.S. and LAM markets. The position develops the purchasing organization and teams to operate both day to day and at a strategic level.

The Senior Director secures the availability of resources and materials while meeting cost and delivery targets, balancing local production requirements with supplier flows, delivery performance, working capital, and spend. The role manages supplier relationships and performance, negotiates long-term contracts and commercial terms, and establishes pricing, payment terms, savings targets, and reporting. It also drives procurement process improvement, supplier quality and availability, compliance with QHSE regulations, and implementation of cost-reduction and global supply-chain projects.

The position leads Make-or-Buy projects, assesses strategic suppliers, develops procurement team capabilities, and implements performance measurement for savings, on-time delivery, and supplier quality. It requires broad international business understanding, customer focus, leadership, and experience working in complex matrix and centralized organizations. The position is based in the United States and does not offer visa or work sponsorship.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration, engineering, or equivalent educational level.
• At least 5 years of multinational supply-chain experience in procurement, planning, warehousing, or logistics.
• Experience leading and implementing corporate supply-chain networks.
• Profound knowledge of supply/demand planning, warehousing, and logistics.
• Experience working in complex matrix and centralized organizations.
• Deep understanding of business and experience in change management.
• Profound knowledge of contract management and project management skills.
• Negotiation experience across global supplier markets.
• Experience in supplier management.
• Proficient English; fluency in a local language is preferred.
• Strong problem-solving skills; open-minded and solution-oriented.
• Teamwork, networking, negotiation, and very good communication skills.
• Strong customer orientation, leadership skills, and entrepreneurial competencies.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future visa or work sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in a local language.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive procurement activities for the local FT organization in the Americas and for the GEA U.S. and LAM markets, including strategic procurement support for the LAM Hygiene site.
• Lead direct and indirect procurement, supporting approximately $125 million in annual purchases across the U.S. and LAM markets.
• Develop the purchasing organization and teams to perform day-to-day and strategic work.
• Secure the availability of resources and materials and achieve cost and delivery performance targets.
• Coordinate local production requirements with supplier material flows to balance delivery performance, working capital, and spend.
• Negotiate long-term vendor contracts, pricing, discounts, contractual conditions, and payment terms.
• Manage key suppliers, assess supplier quality, secure supplier priorities, and ensure product and material availability.
• Set and control category savings targets, track cost-reduction project implementation, and ensure standard spend and savings reporting.
• Continuously improve procurement processes and structures, including strategy, methods, tools, and personnel development.
• Ensure compliance with QHSE regulations.
• Support local execution of global strategic supply-chain projects.
• Develop the procurement team through training in negotiation and e-auction tools.
• Develop and implement supplier performance measurement for savings, on-time delivery, and quality.
• Understand customer needs and specific Farm Business requirements.
• Lead Make-or-Buy projects and drive decisions and implementation.
• Identify and assess key strategic suppliers.
• Perform other tasks as required.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage beginning on the first day.
• 12 paid holidays, including a flexible floating holiday.
• 136 hours of paid time off.
• 7% 401(k) employer match.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Wellness incentive program.
• Confidential Employee Assistance Program.
• Flexible Health Savings and Spending Accounts.
• Potential eligibility for a discretionary bonus and/or equity awards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior