Sourcing Buyer

Company: FABHER LLC

Job Title: Sourcing Buyer

Location: Belgrade, Serbia (in office)

Hours: 8am – 5pm CST / 3pm – 12am CET

Reports To: Category Manager

Employment Type: Contract

Department: Procurement

Please apply only if you have experience working in the same or similar position.

Also, submission of CV in English is mandatory.

Position Overview

The Sourcing Buyer is responsible for managing the strategic sourcing and procurement of goods and services across assigned procurement categories. This includes commodities, raw materials, capital equipment, maintenance, MRO, and services. In collaboration with the Category Manager, the Sourcing Buyer takes ownership of the bottom 10–40% of category spend (depending on category), while supporting competitive sourcing, contract execution, supplier relationship management, and cross-functional coordination. The role requires strong negotiation skills focused on total value delivery—balancing cost, quality, service, and terms—and includes direct involvement in both tactical one-time purchases and multi-year supplier agreements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Execution

• Execute the strategic sourcing and procurement of goods and services across assigned scopes under the direction of the Category Manager.
• Lead sourcing events (RFQs, RFPs), analyze supplier proposals, and support award decisions based on total cost of ownership (TCO), quality, service, and risk.
• Negotiate both tactical purchases (spot buys) and longer-term contracts (1 year and beyond), balancing price competitiveness with delivery reliability and commercial flexibility.
• Provide inputs into the broader category strategy through analysis of transactional trends and supplier engagement feedback.
• Reference: 8dQkSRzUC67Xlgxh8YHQniGFLv54VJdTnN5jKOp4JfM.

2. Competitive Bidding & Compliance

• Administer and manage compliant sourcing processes, ensuring that all supplier selections follow company procurement policies and Delegation of Authority (DOA).
• Document sourcing decisions, cost justifications, and contract awards to ensure full audit traceability.
• Ensure sourcing actions reflect ethical, legal, and sustainability standards as applicable.

3. Category Execution – Bottom 20–30% of Spend

• Manage the tactical execution of procurement for the bottom-tier of assigned category spend, including low-to-medium complexity suppliers, parts, or services.
• Identify opportunities to streamline or consolidate suppliers in this segment to improve efficiency or pricing.
• Support ad-hoc sourcing for non-categorized or emergent needs.

4. Negotiation & Value Optimization

• Lead negotiations across pricing, service levels, lead times, and terms and conditions, targeting total value—not just unit cost.
• Partner with Category Managers to prepare for high-impact negotiations and contract renewals.
• Use data and cost models to support negotiation leverage and supplier benchmarking.

5. Supplier Management & QBR Support

• Act as the day-to-day contact for operational supplier engagement—resolving pricing discrepancies, delivery delays, quality concerns, and payment issues.
• Support the preparation of Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) by compiling supplier performance data, KPI tracking (OTIF, quality, responsiveness), and scorecards.
• Assist in vendor onboarding and ongoing compliance documentation (insurance, safety, REACH, ISO, etc.).

6. ERP & Data Management

• Maintain accurate PO entries, pricing conditions, lead times, and vendor master data in ERP systems (preferably SAP).
• Regularly update price lists, agreements, and contract terms in procurement tools.
• Ensure data integrity for all sourcing actions and reporting.

7. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with operations, engineering, planning, and site buyers to align sourcing with demand forecasts and project needs.
• Coordinate with logistics, finance, and quality to ensure materials and services are delivered as specified, on time, and invoiced correctly.

Qualifications

· Language Requirement:

• English fluency at CEFR Level B2 or higher (written and verbal) is required for internal and supplier communication.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field.

· Experience:

• 3–5 years in a procurement or sourcing role, including direct experience negotiating both one-time and long-term contracts.
• Exposure to multiple categories such as chemicals, capital, MRO, or services is preferred.
• Experience supporting supplier reviews, cost tracking, and ERP-based procurement.

· Systems & Tools:

• Preferred: Proficiency with SAP or equivalent ERP.
• Strong skills in Excel for analysis and reporting.
• Familiarity with sourcing platforms (e.g., Ariba, Jaggaer) is a plus.

· Core Skills:

• Strong negotiation skills with ability to balance cost, quality, delivery, and commercial terms
• High attention to detail and data accuracy
• Strong organizational and time-management ability
• Effective written and verbal communication
• Analytical mindset and continuous improvement approach

Success Profile

A successful Sourcing Buyer is commercially sharp, detail-oriented, and execution-focused. They proactively manage smaller-spend categories and suppliers while supporting larger strategic initiatives. With strong negotiation and compliance discipline, they help deliver measurable value across cost, service, and supply performance.