Lead Buyer Travel and Fleet

INS (Industrial Products and Services) with 6 Sub-Categories present in 6 hubs ensures proximity to the plant and captures full benefit of our size. This Procurement organization is centrally led and managed per categories to develop expertise, consolidate the needs and follow-up the execution of contracts.

Our Support Services GLobal team within INS, is looking for a Lead Buyer - Travel & Fleet

The Lead Buyer – Travel & Fleet is responsible for defining and executing the global sourcing strategy for all travel-related categories (air, hotel, rail, car rental, VTC, travel agencies, online booking tools, payment solutions,…) and fleet category (company cars, utility vehicles, fleet management software…). This role ensures cost optimization, supplier consolidation, policy standardization and sustainability impact improvement while addressing regional market dynamics and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

In his/her role, the Lead Buyer Travel is responsible for:

Global Strategy & Sourcing

- Lead global sourcing initiatives and supplier consolidation efforts.

- Define and implement a global category strategy for travel/fleet procurement aligned with company objectives.

- Drive standardization of policies, processes, and tools across regions.

- Deploys the strategy through the definition of a 3-5 years Master Plan

- Keep a close eye on the regulation evolutions

Supplier & Contract Management

- Develops with Lead Users standard specifications, price list, TCO approach

- Lead global negotiations with key suppliers (airlines, hotel chains, agencies, OEM, leasers…).

- Establish and manage global framework agreements and pricing structures.

- Monitor supplier performance through KPIs and service level agreements (SLAs).

- Build strategic partnerships with preferred global vendors.

- Deploying EPO improvement projects (tools, processes…).

Stakeholder Management

- Partner with regional procurement teams worldwide to ensure alignment and local adaptation.

- Collaborate with Finance, HR, Security, Travel or Fleet Management, Sustainability/ESG

- Act as the global point of contact for travel and fleet procurement topics.

Spend & Performance Management

- Analyze global travel and fleet spend and identify optimization opportunities.

- Implement cost-saving initiatives and demand management strategies.

- Develop dashboards and reporting for senior management

Tools & Digitalization

- Oversee global travel booking tools, expense management systems, fleet management software

- Drive adoption of online booking tools and automation.

- Optimize user experience while ensuring compliance.

- Keep a close eye on market evolutions in terms of technology

Risk, Compliance & Duty of Care

- Ensure global compliance with internal policies and external regulations.

- Partner with security teams to manage traveler risk and crisis response.

- Integrate duty of care standards into travel programs

Other assignments

- Cover addition procurement areas e.g. Meetings& Events, Facility Management (Fleet & Travel being the main services to manage)

Profile Required:

- Master’s degree in Business, Procurement, Supply Chain, Economic or related field.

- 5 years in Procurement or Engineering and Management.

- Good proficiency in English and French. Knowledge of and any additional language is a plus.

- Good problem-solving, analytical skills and good ease facing numbers.

- Strategic thinking with global perspective.

- Advanced negotiation and influencing skills.

- Strong analytical and financial acumen.

- Cross-cultural communication and stakeholder management.

- Change management and transformation leadership.

- Digital and systems proficiency (e.g., travel & expense platforms).

- Travel is required: internal stakeholders, suppliers, fairs, travel associations, site inspections… (20%)