Reporting to the Global Strategic Sourcing Manager, the Strategic Buyer plays a key role in delivering Allianz Partners' procurement strategy by driving the sourcing and management of goods and services across the organization. The role is responsible for ensuring a cost-efficient, compliant, and high-performing supplier base while supporting business objectives through strategic procurement initiatives.
Working closely with internal stakeholders and global procurement teams, the Strategic Buyer leads sourcing projects, develops category strategies, manages supplier performance, and ensures compliance with procurement governance frameworks. The position covers end-to-end procurement activities, including strategic sourcing, contract and supplier management, demand planning, risk management, reporting, and continuous process improvement in a global and multicultural environment.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement sourcing strategies that support business objectives, optimize costs, improve service quality, and mitigate operational and supplier risks.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing projects, including RFPs, supplier selection processes, negotiations, and contract finalization, particularly for projects exceeding €250K.
- Conduct market research and supplier benchmarking to identify market trends, innovation opportunities, and potential regulatory impacts.
- Support the implementation of global category strategies and ensure alignment between global procurement objectives and local business requirements.
- Build, maintain, and develop strategic relationships with key suppliers, driving supplier performance, continuous improvement, and long-term value creation.
- Manage supplier performance reviews, monitor service levels and contractual commitments, and address supplier-related risks or performance issues.
- Draft, review, negotiate, and maintain supplier contracts in line with company policies, procurement standards, and risk management requirements.
- Ensure procurement activities comply with Allianz Partners' procurement policies, governance frameworks, regulatory requirements, and Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) standards.
- Partner with business stakeholders to understand purchasing needs, support demand forecasting, and optimize supplier panels and procurement initiatives.
- Conduct supplier due diligence assessments and risk evaluations in collaboration with internal risk, legal, compliance, and audit teams.
- Monitor procurement KPIs, prepare reports and insights, and provide regular updates to leadership on sourcing activities, savings achievements, risks, and performance improvements.
- Drive procurement process enhancements and promote best practices across the organization to improve efficiency, compliance, and stakeholder satisfaction.
- Support procurement transformation initiatives and contribute to the continuous development of procurement tools, systems, and ways of working.
- Work effectively in an environment shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, data analytics and cloud-based tools, using insights responsibly with our standards of data governance, security and ethical use.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Finance, Insurance, or a related field; Master's degree is considered an advantage.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, or supply chain management.
- Proven track record of successfully leading sourcing projects, supplier negotiations, and contract management activities within complex organizations.
- Experience operating in an international and multi-country environment with exposure to global stakeholders and suppliers.
- Strong understanding of procurement best practices, supplier relationship management, strategic sourcing methodologies, and procurement governance.
- Experience managing high-value procurement projects and negotiating commercial agreements with a focus on cost optimization and value creation.
- Knowledge of supplier risk assessment processes, compliance requirements, and third-party risk management principles.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to translate data into actionable business insights and recommendations.
- Experience working with procurement technology platforms, preferably SAP Ariba.
- Excellent project management, stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills.
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and drive initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong ownership mindset, proactive approach, and ability to challenge and influence stakeholders at different organizational levels.
- Fluency in English, both written and spoken.
102339 | Procurement | Professional | Non-Executive | Allianz Partners | Full-Time | Permanent
How We Hire:
Allianz Partners does not accept unsolicited CV’s or approaches from agencies. We only work with partners on our approved supplier lists, under contract. Any unsolicited submission will not be considered.