Strategic Buyer

About Us:

How many companies can say they’ve been in business for over 179 years?!

Here at ZEISS, we certainly can! As the pioneers of science, ZEISS handles the everchanging environments in a fast-paced world, meeting it with cutting edge of technologies and continuous advancements. ZEISS believes that innovation and technology are the key to a sustainable future and solutions for global change. We have a diverse range of portfolios throughout the ZEISS family in segments like, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. We are a global company with over 42,000 employees and have over 4,000 in the US and Canada alone! Make a difference, come join the team!

Location/Region: Dublin, CA

What’s the role?

Working within the Hiring Manager’s team, we are looking for a Strategic Buyer / Category Manager to take responsibility for the strategic management of a dedicated category, such as Electronics, Mechanics, IT Software & Hardware, Third-Party Products, Emitters, or Detectors.

Sound Interesting?

Here’s what you’ll do:

- Develop and implement cross-site category strategies across the USA, Germany, UK, Italy, China, and India.
- Conduct global market analyses and manage supplier selection, qualification, and performance to meet requirements for quality, service, delivery, cost, risk, innovation, and capability.
- Ensure supply continuity by monitoring industry trends, assessing supplier and market risks, and initiating mitigation measures that strengthen supply-chain resilience.
- Identify and develop new suppliers and propose alternative materials, technologies, or manufacturing processes to support series production and NPI projects.
- Lead national and international commercial and contractual negotiations, and resolve supplier discrepancies relating to quality, delivery, price, or service.
- Develop and apply product cost-driver and total-cost models to benchmark, evaluate, and negotiate prices and deliver agreed savings targets.
- Ensure purchased-product costs, source data, and outline agreements are accurately established and maintained in SAP.
- Lead continuous-improvement initiatives and contribute to standardized procurement policies, procedures, KPIs, materials-management systems, and digital tools.
- Collaborate closely with operational procurement, NPI project buying, manufacturing, quality, project management, and other business partners to implement category strategies and supporting programs.
- Build strong supplier and internal stakeholder relationships and communicate effectively with ZEISS leaders at all organizational levels.

Do you qualify?

- At least three years of relevant purchasing experience in one or more technical categories, such as formed or extruded metals, plastics, machined parts, mechanical components, or electrical components.
- Strong technical understanding of the assigned category, high-technology systems, and complex parts.
- Analytical and financial capability to assess suppliers against quality, cost, reliability, innovation, capability, and financial-stability criteria and to evaluate total cost of ownership.
- Strong negotiation skills and sound knowledge of commercial law, contracts, and agency principles.
- Proven project-management capability and solid command of strategic procurement methods and continuous-improvement practices.
- At least one year of SAP experience, preferably in Materials Management, and proficient use of Microsoft Office.
- A structured, data-driven approach, with the ability to manage large data sets and synthesize and present decision-relevant information.
- Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to build effective supplier relationships and work across technical, sales, manufacturing, management, and business-process teams.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, a customer-focused mindset, and the confidence to engage effectively across all leadership levels.
- Initiative, creativity, and persistence in developing and implementing new ideas and solutions.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
- Fluency in English; additional languages, such as German, Chinese or Hindi are an advantage.
- Occasional travel to our headquarters in southern Germany or to suppliers internationally will be necessary—up to 20%.

The annual pay range for this position is $77,000 – $96,000

The pay offered for this role may be influenced by factors such as job location, scope of role, qualifications, education, experience, & complexity/specialization/scarcity of talent.

This position is also eligible for a performance bonus or sales commissions.  ZEISS also offers robust benefits, including medical plans, retirement savings plan and paid time off.

We have amazing benefits to support you as an employee at ZEISS!

- Medical

- Vision

- Dental

- 401k Matching

- Employee Assistance Programs

- Vacation and sick pay

- The list goes on!

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of requirements, duties, or responsibilities. The Company reserves the right to interpret, amend, or otherwise modify, in whole or in part, any job description at any time, at its sole discretion.

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Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:
Jo Anne Mittelman

Zeiss provides Equal Employment Opportunity without unlawful regard to an Applicants race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, citizen status, sexual orientation, pregnancy (includes childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition), genetic predisposition, carrier status, gender expression or identity, including transgender identity, or any other class or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law of the employee (or the people with whom the employee associates, including relatives and friends).