Louis Dreyfus Company is looking for a Buyer, Food Ingredients on a maternity cover contract to strengthen the EMEA procurement team. You will be responsible for procurement activities supporting production in plant operations within the region, with an initial focus on Germany. Your role involves managing supplier relationships, negotiating contracts, and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality raw materials.
What You'll Do
- Perform simple and tactical sourcing: analyze past purchases, support other departments articulating specifications, analyze suppliers market, prepare and issue Request for Quotations/Proposals, analyze offers, negotiate, select suppliers and contract for various spend categories.
- Process Purchase Requests to Purchase Orders: convert Purchase Requests into Purchase Orders based on appropriate terms and conditions, manage required master data, and act as a key user for systems involved (SAP, Ariba, EBX).
- Follow up and expedite Purchase Orders: ensure delivery in time, quality and quantity of goods and services ordered, including tracking PO confirmations and shipping notifications for critical supplies.
- Monitor Buying Channel compliance: ensure negotiated contracts/catalogs and T&Cs are properly used, monitor deviations, suggest and implement remediation plans, and report to senior colleagues.
- Resolve Purchase Order related issues and support claims management: proactively support any type of issue related to purchases, including claims related to deliveries and invoicing.
- Play a key role for Source to Contract and Purchase to Pay processes proper implementation and governance, acting as a key user for LDC systems towards various roles on the Wittenberg plant.
- Potentially perform similar activities for other categories and countries/assets within the region or other procurement activities as part of the EMEA procurement team.
What We're Looking For
- 3-5 years in procurement in large companies with a robust Purchase To Pay (P2P) process.
- Evidence of extensive experience of service delivery to internal and external customers, working with ERPs (ideally SAP MM).
- Proven relevant experience in direct/raw material buying operations including simple/tactical sourcing (including contract negotiation) and PO execution monitoring and troubleshooting.
- German fluent written and spoken.
- English fluent written and spoken.
- Experience with a P2P system is a must have.
- Advanced skills in: Mastering of P2P and ERP usage, Communication and Collaboration, Procurement and Negotiation, Customer focus, Process Driven, and Team player.
- Intermediate skill in Analytical thinking.
- Basic skill in Auditing awareness & skills.
Nice to Have
- Experience in agro and food industry, some familiarity with food ingredient production process and related procurement framework and constraints.
- Solid knowledge on established Procurement/Finance business processes & technologies, P2P process on ERP/SAP, some sourcing skills will be a plus.
- Business Administration degree, a minor in procurement or supply chain management will be a nice to have.
- Experience with an ERP, ideally SAP (ECC or S/4Hana) is a nice to have.
- Experience with an eProcurement solution (ideally SAP Ariba) is a nice to have.
Technical Stack
- SAP S/4Hana (MM)
- Ariba (SLP, Sourcing, Network)
- EBX
Team & Environment
You will join the EMEA procurement team, operating within a matrix organization.
Benefits & Compensation
- 25 annual paid leave
- Flexible working hours
- Food vouchers
- Transportation allowance
- Additional medical & dental insurance
- Life insurance
- Sports card with 90/10 coverage
- Various learning & development opportunities
- Yearly performance evaluation plans
- Social clubs & Wellbeing initiatives
- Team buildings & social events
- Employee Referral Program
Work Mode
This is an onsite position based in Germany.
LDC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity, equity and inclusion.
