Key Skills

Job Description

Lead Buyer Within Yanmar Marine International, Procurement plays a vital role in ensuring the continuity, quality, and competitiveness of our business. As Yanmar continues to grow, we are creating a new Lead Buyer position to strengthen our procurement capabilities, build stronger supplier partnerships, and drive strategic sourcing initiatives across the organization. This is a unique opportunity to shape a newly established role and make a direct impact on both operational performance and business growth. What are you going to do As our Lead Buyer, you will be responsible for sourcing and purchasing activities for assigned categories, materials, and services. Working closely with Operations, Sales, Finance, Legal, suppliers, and procurement teams across Yanmar entities, you will ensure reliable supply, competitive costs, and strong supplier performance. This position offers a unique combination of strategic procurement, supplier relationship management, contract negotiations, and stakeholder engagement. You will play a key role in defining procurement strategies, optimizing supplier performance, and establishing the foundation for Yanmar Marine International's future procurement organization. Your main tasks and responsibilities Procurement Strategy & Sourcing Develop and execute purchasing strategies for assigned categories and commodities. Identify opportunities for cost reduction, supply continuity, and process improvements. Analyze supplier markets, industry developments, and procurement risks. Support management with procurement insights and recommendations. Drive sourcing initiatives that contribute to Yanmar's operational and commercial objectives. Supplier Selection & Contract Management Work closely with internal stakeholders to define sourcing requirements and specifications. Prepare and manage RFQs, tenders, and supplier selection processes. Evaluate supplier proposals and recommend sourcing solutions. Lead contract negotiations regarding pricing, delivery conditions, and commercial agreements. Manage key supplier contracts and identify opportunities for optimization and risk mitigation. Ensure contract compliance and maintain accurate contract documentation. Supplier Performance & Relationship Management Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic suppliers. Monitor supplier performance regarding quality, delivery reliability, cost-effectiveness, and service levels. Develop and implement supplier improvement plans where required. Resolve supplier-related issues and commercial disputes. Strengthen supplier collaboration while supporting Yanmar's long-term procurement objectives. Procurement Analysis & Reporting Monitor market trends, price developments, and supply chain risks. Analyze procurement data and provide actionable insights to stakeholders. Prepare procurement reports, benchmarks, and performance analyses. Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier data, and procurement documentation. Support data-driven decision-making throughout the organization. Stakeholder Management & Collaboration Act as a trusted procurement partner for internal stakeholders across Operations, Sales, Finance, Legal, and Management. Collaborate closely with procurement teams within Yanmar Europe and Japan. Build strong internal and external networks to support procurement effectiveness. Align sourcing activities with business priorities and stakeholder requirements. Influence and engage stakeholders to support procurement initiatives and change. Leadership & Continuous Improvement Coordinate procurement activities across assigned categories. Provide functional guidance and support to procurement colleagues where needed. Promote procurement best practices and continuous improvement initiatives. Help establish and further develop this newly created role within the organization. Support the future growth and professionalization of the procurement function. Who are we looking for The ideal Lead Buyer combines strong commercial awareness with exceptional analytical and stakeholder management skills. You are comfortable negotiating complex contracts, building long-term supplier relationships, and influencing stakeholders across multiple functions and cultures. You enjoy operating in an international manufacturing environment and are motivated by creating structure, improving processes, and delivering measurable business results. As this is a newly created position, you are proactive, entrepreneurial, and excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of procurement within Yanmar Marine International. The ideal candidate Bachelor's degree or equivalent working and thinking level. Minimum 8 years of experience within procurement, sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain management. Experience within an international manufacturing environment is strongly preferred. Proven experience negotiating contracts and commercial agreements. Strong knowledge of procurement processes, supplier management, and strategic sourcing. Demonstrated ability to drive cost reduction and supplier performance improvements. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities. Fluent in English, both written and spoken. Additional European languages or Japanese are considered an advantage. Work location This position is based in Almere, the Netherlands, and operates within an international procurement environment with close collaboration across Europe and Japan. What do we offer You will join an international and growing organization where procurement plays an increasingly strategic role. In this newly created position, you will have the opportunity to establish procurement strategies, manage key supplier relationships, and directly contribute to Yanmar's operational and commercial success. The role offers significant exposure to senior stakeholders and international procurement teams, providing excellent opportunities for professional growth and future development within the organization. Employee benefits A competitive salary based on knowledge and experience Flexible working hours and the possibility to work from home where suitable A standard working week of 37.5 hours Opportunities for training and professional development Gym subscription and bike plan Employee benefits plan with discounts on various products and services Participation in company outings, sports activities, and events Commuting allowance 27 vacation days with the ability to build up time-for-time 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus based on company results

Core Responsibilities

Develop and execute sourcing strategies for assigned categories, manage supplier selection and contracts, negotiate commercial terms, and monitor supplier performance and supply risks. Partner with internal and international stakeholders to improve procurement processes, provide actionable analysis, and help establish the procurement function.

Requirements

Requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent working and thinking level and at least eight years of experience in procurement, sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain management. Candidates should have contract negotiation and strategic sourcing experience, strong analytical and stakeholder management skills, fluent English, and preferably experience in international manufacturing.

Benefits

• Flexible Working Hours
• Work From Home Where Suitable
• Training And Professional Development
• Gym Subscription
• Bike Plan
• Employee Discounts
• Company Outings And Events
• Sports Activities
• Commuting Allowance
• 27 Vacation Days
• Time-Off In Lieu
• 8% Holiday Allowance
• Year-End Bonus Based On Company Results