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Senior Category Buyer Precision Machining

Frencken Europe B.V.

Eindhoven
Full-time
5-10 years experience
On-site

Key Skills

Strategic Procurement
Category Management
Precision Machining
Supplier Relationship Management
Contract Negotiation
Supply Chain Optimization
Value Engineering
Stakeholder Management
Commercial Acumen
Risk Mitigation
High-tech Manufacturing
Supplier Performance Management
Strategic Sourcing
Cross-functional Collaboration
Procurement Strategy

Job Description

Shape the Future of High-Tech Manufacturing

Are you an experienced procurement professional with a passion for precision machining and strategic supplier management? Do you thrive in a high-tech, international environment where innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything you do? Then this is your opportunity.

As a Category Buyer – Precision Machining, you play a key role in sourcing highly complex and innovative technologies for cutting-edge products and projects. Together with the Global Category Manager (GCM) and cross-functional teams, you will develop and execute the category strategy, ensuring an optimal balance between technology, cost, quality, supply continuity, and risk.

You will build (on) long-term partnerships with strategic suppliers, drive commercial excellence, and contribute directly to the success of our global supply chain.

What You'll Be Doing

As Category Buyer, you will:

  • Co-develop and execute the short- and long-term category strategy together with the GCM and the global Category Team.
  • Partner closely with Procurement Program Leads (PPLs) and multidisciplinary Program Teams to support business priorities, including supply continuity, cost optimization, quality improvement, and technology advancement.
  • Act as the primary commercial interface for strategic suppliers, building strong and sustainable partnerships.
  • Lead commercial discussions, contract negotiations, and supplier agreements to achieve the best commercial and technical outcomes.
  • Conduct regular supplier business reviews, monitor supplier performance, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Identify opportunities for cost reduction, value engineering, and supply chain optimization while mitigating commercial, operational, and quality risks.
  • Develop and strengthen the supplier base by scouting, qualifying, and onboarding new suppliers, while phasing out underperforming or redundant suppliers where appropriate.
  • Take ownership of supplier escalations and collaborate closely with Quality and Operational Procurement teams to resolve complex supply chain challenges.
  • Support the execution of the global category strategy and contribute to the continuous development of procurement best practices.
  • Escalate strategic issues when required to the Category Buying Manager.

What You Bring

You are an experienced procurement professional who combines technical understanding with strong commercial insight. You enjoy working in an international, fast-paced environment and know how to build trusted relationships while confidently challenging suppliers to achieve the best results.

You also bring:

  • 5–10 years of strategic procurement or category management experience, preferably within Precision Machining.
  • A Bachelor's or Master's degree (BSc, BEng or MSc) in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or a related technical discipline.
  • Proven experience sourcing complex machined components within a high-tech manufacturing environment.
  • Strong commercial acumen with extensive experience in supplier negotiations and contract management.
  • Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence and obtain buy-in at all organizational levels, including executive management.
  • Experience in supplier relationship management and supplier performance improvement.
  • Outstanding communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
  • Fluency in English, both written and spoken.
  • An entrepreneurial mindset with a collaborative, win-win approach and a drive for continuous improvement.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to make a real impact within an international high-tech organization where procurement is recognized as a strategic business partner. You'll work with leading suppliers, contribute to innovative technologies, and collaborate with talented colleagues across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain.

If you're looking for a role where you can combine strategic thinking, technical expertise, and commercial leadership, we'd love to hear from you.

Core Responsibilities

You will develop and execute category strategies for precision machining while managing strategic supplier partnerships to ensure supply continuity and cost optimization. Additionally, you will lead commercial negotiations and drive continuous improvement initiatives across the global supply chain.

Requirements

The role requires 5–10 years of strategic procurement experience, specifically within precision machining and high-tech manufacturing environments. Candidates must hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related technical field and possess strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.

About Frencken Europe B.V.

Industry: Manufacturing

Company size: 1,001-5,000 employees

At Frencken, we offer technological solutions for the world of tomorrow. From original designs and high-tech production to integrated supply chain services, we support leading multinationals across various sectors. Together, we deliver technological solutions through concept development, design, and prototyping to series production and logistics. Whatever your idea, we bring it to life, with precision and on a global scale. In our organization, you work alongside curious and talented people who do not shy away from complex challenges. The diversity of people, expertise, and perspectives allows us to push boundaries and explore new technologies. Curiosity is in our DNA. We believe anything is possible, and together we go to great lengths to make it happen.

Added 1 months ago