BE GREAT TOGETHER WITH US.
Innovation, Efficiency and Ambition: this is what VAT has stood for over 50 years.
With this passion, VAT has grown to become the leading international developer, manufacturer and supplier of high-performance high-end vacuum valves and vacuum sealing technology, employing over 2000 people worldwide. The headquarters are located in Haag (Switzerland), the production centers in Switzerland, Malaysia, Romania and Taiwan.
The Purchasing Manager is responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies that ensure supply continuity, cost efficiency, and supplier performance. The role oversees supplier forecasting, contract management, and inventory optimization while maintaining high data accuracy and collaborating closely with suppliers, category teams, and key stakeholders. A key focus will be driving departmental KPIs, including Supplier On-Time Delivery, inventory turns, and reduction of excess and obsolete materials, to support overall business and customer needs.
Your responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Supplier Management: Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, manage supplier performance, and address supply risks, gaps, and escalations.
- Team Leadership & Compliance: Provide coaching and mentoring to procurement staff, and ensure purchase order reviews and procurement activities comply with company policies and procedures.
- Procurement Strategy & Contracts: Develop and implement procurement strategies, partner with category management on supplier frame contracts, and ensure timely updates aligned with forecast changes.
- Forecasting & Demand Planning: Analyze forecast accuracy, monitor sales demand projections, and communicate capacity requirements to stakeholders to support business and customer needs.
- Inventory & Data Management: Manage and optimize stock levels, establish reorder points for BOM parts, and maintain high integrity in master data (lead times, reorder points, stock types).
- Performance & Continuous Improvement: Drive departmental KPIs, including Supplier On-Time Delivery (SOTD), inventory turns, and reduction of excess/obsolete materials, while supporting cost optimization through effective change control processes.
Minimum Qualification:
- Bachelor’s degree with 8-12 years of experience in Purchasing/ Supply Chain
Preferred Qualification:
- Strong command of English and the local language; proficiency in German is an advantage.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills with a results- and customer-oriented mindset.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Proven ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrated project management and stakeholder management skills, with experience leading global initiatives.
- Active contributor to process improvements and cross-divisional procurement projects.
VAT is an equal opportunity employer. We see ourselves as a responsible and far-sighted employer that offers not only jobs, but also career and personal development opportunities through various training programs. We recognize the value of employee diversity and provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified application that contributes to innovation, improves customer orientation and employee satisfaction. One-step in this direction is to ensure that people are recognized and fairly compensated for their contributions to the company. In 2021, VAT received the Fair-ON-Pay+ certificate as an acknowledgement for our commitment in ensuring equal pay for equal work between men and women.