Strategic Sourcing Manager - Forging & Casting

VAT Vakuumventile AG seeks a Senior Strategic Sourcing Manager for Forging & Casting in Haag, CH. The role involves developing global sourcing strategies, managing supplier relationships, and optimizing costs for direct materials.

The company is looking for a professional to lead global sourcing strategies for forging and casting materials. This position serves as a key partner to internal stakeholders across business units, engineering, and operations, ensuring supply capability and cost efficiency while supporting future business needs and brand protection.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned material categories, including capacity planning and knowledge management.
• Contribute to global direct material and supply base performance metrics (quality, cost, delivery).
• Represent direct material categories within the organization.
• Achieve objectives related to cost optimization, supply base improvement, geographic sourcing, and best cost country sourcing.
• Provide insights on market trends, threats, and opportunities, such as raw material fluctuations.
• Align the direct materials category team with company objectives.
• Collaborate with business units and engineering on sourcing activities within the product development process.
• Act as a change agent for key stakeholders.
• Develop and implement category sourcing strategies using defined methods and tools.
• Manage supplier relationships globally in alignment with teams in Switzerland, Malaysia, and Romania.
• Ensure consistent application of sourcing levers.
• Contribute to key sourcing performance indicators.

Requirements

• Over five years of experience in strategic and operational sourcing with global category management expertise.
• Familiarity with category-specific production techniques and processes.
• Understanding of sourcing markets.
• Proficiency in office software, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience sourcing in Eastern Europe and Asia, including best cost country and spend relocation activities.
• Background in complex global organizations.
• Experience in machine building, vacuum technology, or semiconductors.
• Cross-functional or category team management experience.
• Strong communication skills with suppliers, colleagues, and internal stakeholders.
• Analytical skills with a risk-based focus and attention to essential facts.
• Ability to deliver results through others, multitask, prioritize, and handle stress.
• Good command of German and English.

Nice to have

• Additional languages are considered an advantage.

About the company

VAT Vakuumventile AG fosters an inclusive and respectful workplace where integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation drive daily operations. The company values diverse backgrounds and supports career growth within a passionate, international team where every voice is heard and ideas matter.

• Guided by integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation.
• Part of a passionate, international team with supportive career growth.
• Dedicated to an inclusive and respectful workplace welcoming all backgrounds.