Strategic Buyer(m/w/x)

# Strategic Buyer (m/f/d) **Ludwigsstadt, Germany** | **Full time** **Build a career powered by innovations that matter!** At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission-critical applications—from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing. This position is part of Novanta’s Advanced Surgery business unit group. Novanta offers highly reliable, precise and safe solutions that enhance system performance and improve patient outcomes. Insufflators, pumps and disposable tube sets, along with medical visualization and operating room integration technologies are the preferred solution for minimally invasive surgery applications. **Primary Responsibilities** * Develop, and lead the execution of a Advanced Surgery Supply Chain Strategy that supports Novanta Business Growth objectives and Advanced Surgery Business expectations for Supplier OTD, Inventory Reduction, Supplier Quality, Supplier Lead Times, and Material Productivity, including VAVE. This would include actions to rationalize the supply base, improve supplier relationships, implement Supplier Agreements, drive increased sourcing from lower cost/high quality sources and leverage the material spend with other Novanta business units. * Implement Productivity and Supplier Improvement plans in support with the global category management teams as planned in the Advanced Surgery Annual Operating Plan for Supply Chain. * Establish and network of support resources in Advanced Surgery business to facilitate Supply Chain improvements and leverage supplier capabilities in product design, cost reduction, lead time reduction while maintaining customer satisfaction. In addition, working closely with Advanced Surgery Operations, Engineering and Quality teams to proactively identify and develop external capability to support strategic in-sourcing or out-sourcing opportunities. * Support Supplier chronic or major performance issues in a timely manner to ensure minimal business disruption. Champion resolving all serious supply issues via appropriate methodology including available Novanta support and on the ground troubleshooting key constraints. * Obtain frequent competitive bids, analyze costs and negotiate/award contracts to nominated Key Suppliers, based on robust and up to date Commodity Strategies and TCO to Advanced Surgery business and Novanta overall. * Drive Advanced Surgery increasing Inventory Turns by developing, identifying, and supporting the implementation of innovative material replenishment processes, including, but not limited to Kanban’s, vendor managed inventory (VMI) and Supplier Consignment. * Consistent with Novanta Operational Excellence focus, participate in and support Global Kaizen events that will eliminate waste and result in significant benefits (Growth, Quality, Delivery and Cost) throughout the Novanta Supply Chain. * Drive continuous improvement in the supply base by communicating objective performance metrics, (including Supplier Scorecards) via a minimum of Quarterly Business Reviews with key Suppliers focused on lead time reduction, on-time delivery improvement, quality improvement, cost reduction, service, and compliance. * Engender a spirit of cooperation throughout Advanced Surgery Supply Chain, both internally and externally, to ensure responsiveness to the customer. Ensure proper flown-down of part specification, Rev changes, quality, and inspection requirements. **Required Experience, Education, Skills, Training and Competencies** * Bachelor’s degree, preferably in engineering or supply chain discipline * 3+ years of strategic sourcing experience * Strong ability to communicate and influence. * Ability to learn new systems, meets objectives and works independently in a matrix organization – Minimal supervision. * Experience in category management, vendors such as site visits, supplier audits, negotiations, and contract agreements preferred. Travel will be required, and relationships need building. * Ability to drive cost reduction projects to achieve consistent PPV/PPI and overall material spend reductions * The candidate must have excellent interpersonal skills; able to converse well with peers, Novanta Leadership and Supplier Leadership. They must be diplomatic yet persistent, where necessary, to ensure timely execution. * Excellent demonstrated high level Negotiation skills are paramount to success. The candidate should be able to articulate previous negotiations from conception, planning, people involved, success and any lessons learnt. * Proven ability to ensure material availability, while reducing inventory and increasing inventory turns. * Analytical thinker with excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines * Ability to understand and apply lean Manufacturing methods * Strong written and verbal communication/presentation skills in English; German is a plus **Travel Requirements** * Approximately 20% travel, including international travel.