Program Purchasing Buyer (m/w/d) (Technical Buyer)

ZF is a global technology company supplying advanced mobility products and systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology. Its comprehensive product range is primarily aimed at vehicle manufacturers, mobility providers and start-up companies in the fields of transportation and mobility. ZF electrifies a wide range of vehicle types. With its products, the company contributes to reducing emissions, protecting the climate as well as enhancing safe mobility.

Alongside the automotive sector - passenger cars and commercial vehicles - ZF also serves market segments such as construction and agricultural machinery, wind power, marine propulsion, rail drives and test systems. With some 168,700 employees worldwide, ZF reported sales of €46.6 billion in fiscal year 2023. The company operates 162 production locations in 31 countries.

This position belongs to the ADAS & HPC business unit of ZF, which is currently in an exciting phase of growth and change in the field of advanced automotive technologies. A divestiture is planned for this business unit, which creates a unique opportunity to actively shape the future of next-generation driver assistance systems as well as high-performance computer technologies.

We are strengthening our purchasing team at the Düsseldorf location.

What you can expect as a Program Purchasing Buyer (m/w/d):

• You act as the purchasing partner for the programs assigned to you and lead procurement and purchasing activities for the successful introduction of new products and the implementation of projects
• In doing so, you work cross-functionally with development, project management, logistics, plants and shared-service teams to ensure timely deliveries, supplier readiness as well as transparent communication and implementation
• You are responsible for the costs of the Bill of Material (BOM) scope, drive cost reduction measures and implement Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VA/VE), localization strategies, measures to minimize customs costs as well as productivity increases
• Furthermore, you take on a leading role in supporting the CQA-Team (Customer Quote Analysis) by contributing purchasing expertise and driving the coordination of BOM costs with cross-functional stakeholders based on a future-oriented cost strategy
• You manage the selection, evaluation, nomination and performance monitoring of suppliers to meet quality, cost and delivery targets (QCD - Quality, Cost, Delivery) throughout the entire product lifecycle
• In your role, you support the preparation of RFQs, negotiations, contract conclusions, tool procurement, prototype projects and capacity planning in accordance with commodity and purchasing strategies
• You monitor program and supplier risks, including capacity bottlenecks, material shortages, technical changes as well as lifecycle topics such as CRB (Change Review Board), LTB (Last Time Buy/Bridge) and make-or-buy decisions. In addition, you track procurement status, savings and program KPIs, maintain purchasing documentation, support continuous improvement processes and ensure compliance with guidelines and processes

Your profile as a Program Purchasing Buyer (m/w/d):

• Completed (Bachelor's) degree in the field of business administration, Supply Chain Management, economics or a comparable subject
• Several years of professional experience in purchasing or supplier development
• Knowledge of automotive APQP/PPAP processes as well as gate review processes; ideally experience in the field of automotive electronics
• Advanced knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint and SAP
• Structured and organized way of working, strong personality with pronounced assertiveness and negotiation skills
• Strong mindset in terms of continuous improvement (Continuous Improvement Mindset)
• Good communication and interpersonal skills as well as good written and spoken English skills

Why should you choose ZF in Düsseldorf?

• Collective agreement
• 30 days vacation
• Job-Rad, flexible working/hybrid working (after consultation with the supervisor)
• Corporate Benefits
• ZF@Learning
• if applicable, other location-specific benefits