Head of Purchasing Europe (m/f/d)

Location: Portugal and/or Germany

Reports to: VP Supply Chain Europe

Company Overview

Our client is a globally operating industrial enterprise generating annual revenues of EUR 1 billion, with consistently strong performance across all key financial indicators. With several thousand employees and a network of international production sites, the company is widely recognized for its engineering excellence and manufacturing capabilities. As part of its growth strategy, the organization is expanding its Aftermarket division and establishing a strategic sourcing hub in Portugal focused on tooling and forming equipment.

Position Purpose

The Head of Purchasing Europe will be responsible for leading the European purchasing function with a strong focus on building and managing a new team in Portugal. The role is critical in shaping and executing the sourcing strategy for tooling and forming equipment within the Aftermarket segment. With high visibility at the executive level, this position will directly contribute to enhancing profitability by optimizing cost structures, securing high-quality supply chains, and strengthening supplier networks—particularly in Portugal and Turkey.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for all European purchasing activities especially related to the Aftermarket business
• Build and lead cross-functional procurement teams in Germany (~10 FTE), Slovakia (~10 FTE), and a new team in Portugal (~10 FTE)
• Identify, qualify, and develop suppliers with a focus on tooling and forming, particularly in Portugal and Turkey
• Lead complex supplier negotiations, audits, and strategic sourcing initiatives
• Develop and implement LCC (low-cost country) sourcing strategies and drive supplier consolidation
• Ensure alignment with global procurement and production teams to meet cost, quality, and delivery targets
• Manage and coordinate sourcing projects across multiple international sites
• Present purchasing strategies and results to the executive leadership team and key stakeholders
• Ensure strict confidentiality regarding strategic initiatives, particularly concerning supplier and market developments

Candidate Profile

• Degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum 5–7 years of leadership experience in strategic procurement, ideally within the automotive and/or Aftermarket sector
• In-depth knowledge of tooling/forming procurement and industrial sourcing
• Proven expertise in international purchasing processes, ideally within LCC environments such as Portugal and Turkey
• Fluency in Portuguese is mandatory
• In addition, very good command of English or German is required
• Strong leadership capabilities, including team-building across multiple countries and remote team management
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Willingness to travel internationally
• Proficient in MS Office and SAP R3