Director Global Procurement - Cost Efficiency & Excellence (f/m/d)

Working at Freudenberg: "We will wow your world!" This is our promise. As a global technology group, we not only make the world cleaner, healthier and more comfortable, but also offer our 52,000 employees a networked and diverse environment where everyone can thrive individually. Be surprised and experience your own wow moments.
Protecting people and the environment, and optimizing industrial processes - that is what drives us at Freudenberg Filtration Technologies. We serve our automotive, consumer goods and industrial customers with technically leading products, system solutions, services and consulting in air and liquid filtration. As part of the Freudenberg Group, strong corporate values guide us in our aspiration for innovation, efficiency and highest customer focus. With a dedicated team of around 3,500 colleagues, we generate an annual turnover of about 670 million euros.

Some of your Benefits

• Cafeteria/ Canteen: We offer fresh food on-site, both hot and cold.
• On-site Medical Service: Our on-site medical service can handle a variety of medical needs.
• Performance Related Bonus: When you have an impact, you can reap the rewards.
• International Opportunities: Grow in your career through international exchange and global job opportunities.
• Diversity & Inclusion: We focus on providing an inclusive environment and recognize our diversity contributes to our success.

Hybrid Work

Your Opportunities within this position:

• A key global role with high strategic visibility and impact.
• The opportunity to actively shape and sustainably influence the global procurement strategy of Freudenberg Filtration Technologies.
• A performance-driven yet purposeful working environment, characterized by respectful and responsible collaboration with colleagues and business partners.
• A culture of trust-based decision-making, strong values, and diverse, challenging projects in a high-performing organization.
• Clear and attractive development perspectives within the Freudenberg Group.
  You support our team as

Director Global Procurement - Cost Efficiency & Excellence (f/m/d)

Responsibilities

• You develop and implement global sourcing strategies to sustainably optimize total cost of ownership and efficiency across relevant product groups.
• You design, establish, and continuously improve negotiation frameworks, playbooks, and methodological standards for global procurement.
• With coaching, training, and on-the-job support, you systematically enhance the negotiation, cost analysis, and methodological capabilities of procurement teams through coaching, training, and on-the-job support.
• You build, lead, and further develop an international procurement organization, including the establishment of high-performing Cost Management Teams (CMTs).
• In close collaboration with Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations, and Sales, you initiate and lead cross-functional cost-reduction programs (e.g., VAVE initiatives, KPI-driven improvement programs).
• You own and further develop performance management structures within procurement, including dashboards, KPI systems, reporting, and steering mechanisms.
• To standardize, professionalize, and increase the efficiency of global procurement processes, you lead strategic transformation and business excellence initiatives.

Qualifications

• University degree in Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a comparable field.
• Extensive experience in strategic procurement within a manufacturing environment, ideally in the automotive sector or in organizations with a comparable level of procurement maturity.
• Proven track record in global cost optimization, efficiency improvement, business excellence, and transformation programs.
• Strong leadership experience in managing international, cross-functional teams, combined with demonstrated expertise in coaching and team development.
• Deep methodological expertise in negotiation strategies (e.g., BATNA, power analysis, anchoring strategies), cost structure analysis, marginal costing, VAVE, and benchmarking.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills in German and English (both C1 level), with confidence in engaging at top-management and senior supplier level.
• Strategic, analytical, and conceptual mindset combined with pragmatism, diplomacy, and the ability to act confidently in complex and asymmetrical negotiation situations.

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.