Director Global Procurement - Cost Efficiency & Excellence (f / m / d)

Working at Freudenberg : We will wow your world!

Responsibilities :

You develop and implement global sourcing strategies to sustainably optimize total cost of ownership and efficiency across relevant product groups.

You design, establish, and continuously improve negotiation frameworks, playbooks, and methodological standards for global procurement.

With coaching, training, and on-the-job support, you systematically enhance the negotiation, cost analysis, and methodological capabilities of procurement teams through coaching, training, and on-the-job support.

You build, lead, and further develop an international procurement organization, including the establishment of high-performing Cost Management Teams (CMTs).

In close collaboration with Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations, and Sales, you initiate and lead cross-functional cost-reduction programs (e.g., VAVE initiatives, KPI-driven improvement programs).

You own and further develop performance management structures within procurement, including dashboards, KPI systems, reporting, and steering mechanisms.

To standardize, professionalize, and increase the efficiency of global procurement processes, you lead strategic transformation and business excellence initiatives.

Qualifications :

University degree in Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a comparable field.

Extensive experience in strategic procurement within a manufacturing environment, ideally in the automotive sector or in organizations with a comparable level of procurement maturity.

Proven track record in global cost optimization, efficiency improvement, business excellence, and transformation programs.

Strong leadership experience in managing international, cross-functional teams, combined with demonstrated expertise in coaching and team development.

Deep methodological expertise in negotiation strategies (e.g., BATNA, power analysis, anchoring strategies), cost structure analysis, marginal costing, VAVE, and benchmarking.

Excellent communication and influencing skills in German and English (both C1 level), with confidence in engaging at top-management and senior supplier level.

Strategic, analytical, and conceptual mindset combined with pragmatism, diplomacy, and the ability to act confidently in complex and asymmetrical negotiation situations.

Your Opportunities

A key global role with high strategic visibility and impact.

The opportunity to actively shape and sustainably influence the global procurement strategy of Freudenberg Filtration Technologies.

A performance-driven yet purposeful working environment, characterized by respectful and responsible collaboration with colleagues and business partners.

A culture of trust-based decision-making, strong values, and diverse, challenging projects in a high-performing organization.

Clear and attractive development perspectives within the Freudenberg Group.