Strategic buyer
Find strategic procurement vacancies in industry and engineering
Strategic buyer vacancies
These positions can focus on project procurement as well as category management, for direct goods and services just as much as for indirect (NPR) procurement.
What sets strategic procurement roles apart is that, on top of the tactical work, the buyer is heavily involved in setting strategy, managing stakeholders and strengthening the role of procurement in new product development (NPD).
Strategic procurement roles open right now
This list is live: these are the strategic procurement roles we are filling today, permanent and interim. Nothing that fits? With an open application you are on the list for the next one.
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How applying as a strategic buyer at xentys works
You are not applying into a black hole. This is what happens after you respond — and what you can expect from us.
You respond or send your CV
Respond to one of the vacancies above, or send an open application. Make sure your CV shows your relevant experience in the technical world.
You talk to a recruiter
One of our recruitment specialists will give you a call. They would like to talk with you to get a better picture of who you are and what you are looking for.
We introduce you
Is the assignment a good fit? Then we introduce you to the client — never without your yes first.
Interviews and terms
We support you through the conversations about terms and conditions, right up to a smooth start.
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Working as a strategic buyer
When you realise that in industry, offshore and construction between 50 and 80% of revenue is spent on purchasing, you understand why professional procurement matters. Strategic procurement plays a vital role here: identifying, evaluating and selecting the suppliers that offer the organisation the most value. As a professional you are responsible for supplier selection, the contract negotiations that come with it and managing the supplier relationships, for every business process in which suppliers or subcontractors play a part.
What you should know about the strategic buyer role
Responsibilities of a strategic buyer
Developing and implementing new procurement strategies and optimising the purchasing processes to save costs are important responsibilities too. Those responsibilities are one thing, but a strategic buyer is also tasked with managing supplier relationships as well as possible.
Identifying potential risks and putting suitable measures in place to reduce them is also something the buyer takes into account. We go into this in more depth further down the page.
It helps when a strategic buyer has excellent communication skills and knowledge of the market and technologies concerned. A sound command of purchasing processes is a crucial factor in contributing successfully to business results as a buyer over the long term.
The difference between operational and strategic procurement
Besides a strategic buyer, there are often several other buyers in an organisation, including tactical buyers and operational buyers. Both are important parts of an organisation’s purchasing process. Here we look more closely at the difference between the strategic buyer and the related role of operational buyer.
Operational buyers mainly focus on placing orders and managing day-to-day purchasing. They make sure business operations run smoothly. The strategic buyer, on the other hand, works on the long-term approach — for example the purchasing of goods and services.
These are the goods and services the organisation needs to reach its long-term goals. So strategic procurement is more focused on the organisation’s future and tries to anticipate changes in the market smartly and effectively. A buyer should always keep the customer’s needs and wishes in mind when carrying out their tasks, taking into account aspects such as risk management, supplier management and spotting opportunities to generate more profit.
Where does a strategic buyer work?
A strategic buyer naturally works and thinks at a strategic level. In most cases you work as part of a multidisciplinary team in an organisation’s purchasing or supply department — at a wholesaler, a manufacturer or a retail chain, for example. Your role, as mentioned earlier, is to develop and implement effective strategies to buy goods, services and materials on the most favourable terms.
You are in contact with suppliers, identify opportunities for cost savings and negotiate contracts with suppliers. Strategic buyers are also responsible for researching market trends and understanding customer needs, to make sure the best products and services are bought at the most competitive prices. In the end, where you work depends entirely on your specific tasks and, not least, on your own wishes.
What does a strategic buyer's working day look like?
A strategic buyer’s working day usually consists of procurement-focused activities. Researching and analysing the market to find opportunities for cost savings can be one of them. As a buyer you will, for example, negotiate with suppliers to get the best prices and terms. As an experienced buyer you often have a direct line to a specific person at the large organisations you buy from.
You may also be responsible for keeping up with trends in the sector and assessing the latest technologies or materials that could benefit the organisation. As a strategic buyer you also need strong analytical skills to make well-founded decisions about buying goods and services.
Some of the tasks a strategic buyer may have are listed below.
- Setting up market analyses and research to identify opportunities such as cost savings. This lets you, as a strategic buyer, give procurement advice within the organisation
- Negotiating with suppliers to get the most favourable purchasing terms.
- Overseeing complex procurement processes from start to finish.
- Drawing up and monitoring contracts with particular suppliers
- Drawing up strategic procurement plans for different product categories
- Developing criteria for evaluating suppliers, and checking that contractual obligations are being met
The skills needed to become an effective strategic buyer
Becoming an effective strategic buyer takes a number of key skills, including:
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills
- Building relationships with suppliers
- Insight into the market, technologies and trends
- The ability to analyse data to make purchasing decisions that fit the business objectives
- Managing several projects and priorities at once
- Making decisions and managing risk
- Strong business sense, to align the procurement strategy with the goals that have been set
All of these help take the organisation to the next level.
How can these skills be developed further?
If you want to become an experienced strategic buyer, both theoretical and practical knowledge are essential. First of all, a dedicated course or training in purchasing and supply chain management helps you build solid knowledge of processes, suppliers and business. It is also important to gain relevant work experience through an internship or a job as an assistant buyer. A year of experience in a dynamic environment can make you an all-round buyer — as long as you keep a vision of procurement.
Networking at events and keeping an eye on the latest trends in procurement and supply chain are also very effective things to try. Over time, develop soft skills such as communication, negotiation, decision-making and leadership through training, coaching and feedback from colleagues and managers. xentys is happy to play its part in your development as a buyer. Becoming a strategic buyer takes time, but it can lead to a rewarding career in a dynamic field.
Permanent or temporary contract
At xentys you will find professional and management roles in procurement in industry, construction and offshore. Discover which role suits you.
Prefer to work on an interim or freelance basis? View interim and freelance →
Assignments of three to twelve months, often on an interim or freelance basis.
Management roles: team, strategy and supplier portfolio.
Strategic Buyer
Long term: spend analysis, category plans and savings.
Supplier selection, contracts and category management.
Buying engineering: engineering, machine building and projects.
Buyer
Operational purchasing: orders, lead times and day-to-day coordination.
Send an open application
We are always looking for experienced procurement professionals. Maybe not the vacancy that suits you today, but tomorrow it might be.
Rather talk it through first? Call +31 70 240 04 14.