Lead Buyer (m/f/d)

Abbott is a global healthcare leader, creating breakthrough science to improve people’s health. We’re always looking towards the future, anticipating changes in medical science and technology.  

In Germany, Abbott has more than 4,000 employees working in manufacturing, research and development, logistics, manufacturing, sales and marketing. They are located at Abbott`s German headquarters in Wiesbaden and its sites in Neustadt am Rübenberge, Wetzlar, Eschborn, Cologne, Jena, Munich and Hamburg.  

At Abbott, you can do work that matters and help people to live a healthier and full life, grow your career, and learn, be your true self. You will have access to:  

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of 
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.  
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.  
• A challenging position in a fast-growing crisis independent industry 
• To become part of a dynamic, highly educated, highly skilled, and motivated team 
• Flat hierarchies, open appreciative mentality, and efficient, constructive lines of communication 
• Multi-national environment, where we foster the development of our talents within the enterprise 

This position works out of our Hamburg site - Abbott Automation Solutions GmbH. In this role you are energized by complex negotiations and motivated by delivering impactful savings. Using data-driven insights and market intelligence, you develop sourcing strategies that optimize cost, quality, and supplier performance. With a strong commercial mindset and a passion for continuous improvement, you challenge the status quo, streamline processes, and drive operational excellence across the supply chain.

Join a team where your expertise and leadership will help shape the future of automation and healthcare while improving the lives of millions of people around the world.

• Drive the cost agenda for an assigned supplier portfolio by identifying, developing, and delivering sustainable savings opportunities through strategic sourcing, cost analysis, and value engineering initiatives
• Lead strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations, including framework agreements, long-term pricing, capacity commitments, RFQs, benchmarking, and supplier development activities to secure best-in-class commercial outcomes
• Manage and develop a global supplier network, ensuring competitiveness, performance, compliance, supply continuity, and alignment with business objectives through structured Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
• Own supplier performance and stakeholder management, conducting regular business reviews, managing escalations, and collaborating closely with Production Design Transfer, Quality, Engineering, Finance, R&D, and Project Management functions
• Ensure end-to-end supply planning and execution, including demand forecasting, capacity planning, production scheduling, order placement (manually) plus order management, combine customer need by dates with supplier lead times, optimize delivery dates, continues material availability in our global distribution center and close coordination with suppliers and (EDC) distribution center to maintain on-time delivery
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by leveraging data analytics, market intelligence, LEAN principles, and agile ways of working to optimize procurement processes, supplier performance, and operational efficiency
• Develop data-driven insights and reporting, maintaining saving pipelines, monitoring KPIs, presenting results to management, and supporting fact-based decision-making across the supply chain.
• Contribute to a culture of innovation and operational excellence by challenging the status quo, implementing best practices, and continuously enhancing systems, processes, and supplier collaboration models

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or a related field. Alternatively, a completed vocational qualification combined with relevant professional experience

• 6+ years of experience in operational or strategic procurement, supply chain management, planning, or sourcing within an international environment, ideally in the healthcare, electronics, automation, or manufacturing industry

• A high level of ownership, accountability, and results orientation, with the confidence to drive independent initiatives

• Strong negotiation skills

• A proven track record of leading supplier negotiations, managing supplier relationships, and delivering measurable cost savings and value creation

• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills, with the ability to translate market intelligence, cost models, and business insights into effective sourcing strategies

• A solid understanding of procurement, supply chain processes, and business drivers, combined with strong commercial and technical acumen

• An agile and proactive mindset, with a passion for continuous improvement, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, enabling you to build strong relationships and influence effectively across all organizational levels and with suppliers

• LEAN Six Sigma is a Plus

• Fluency in German and English, both written and spoken

In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.