Regional Category Buyer
Job Description
Target:
Regional Category Buyer is responsible for defining and executing sourcing strategies for a specific category in specific regions, aiming to optimize cost, ensure supply reliability, and create value. The role focuses on supplier management, negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration while monitoring market trends and risks to support business objectives.
This level manages regional sourcing activities and supplier portfolios within assigned categories, delivering cost optimization, supplier performance and risk mitigation through execution of category strategies, while ensuring alignment with business objectives, governance standards and continuous improvement initiatives
Main tasks:
Purchasing Strategy & Governance
Adapts and executes global strategy within the region / define regional measures to execute global strategy
Ensures compliance with global governance while considering local market dynamics
Provides regional input into strategy development
Category / Material & Supplier Portfolio Management
Manages regional supplier base
Support onboarding of suppliers aligned with global team
Feeds market intelligence & supplier performance data back to global
Leads supplier selection at regional level (if no global definition existing)
Sourcing & Project Procurement & Project Management
Executes regional sourcing events / RFQs
Supports project based procurement events (on plant or program level)
Ensures on-time delivery for regional projects is escalated by SCM
Manage shortages
Negotiation & Contract Management
Executes local negotiations within defined supplier base
Defines contract frameworks, T&Cs, and pricing models for defined supplier base, region or category
Ensures adherence to global agreements
Processes, Systems & Compliance
Makes sure usage of defined process standards, tools, and system landscape
Ensures compliance with corporate & regulatory requirements
Drives the usage of digital procurement tools (ePos, purchasing suite, etc.)
Cost Management & Continuous Improvement & Change Management
Delivers regional savings targets
Identifies local cost reduction opportunities
Implements continuous improvement measures locally
Risk, Supply & Escalation Management
Monitors regional supply risks and disruptions
Executes mitigation and escalation handling
Acts as first escalation layer
Coordination & Stakeholder Management
Interfaces with local stakeholders (plants, operations, engineering, other stakeholders in the region)
Ensures implementation of global decisions
Provides regional feedback & escalation input
Qualifications
Education/certification:
Bachelor Degree or higher or adequate long term professional experience
Professional experience:
3-5 years of professional experience in Purchasing or other relevant functions
Project and process experience:
proven experience in Purchasing functions and organisational principles; project management experience is a plus
Very good communicative skills & team player
High own initiative and ability to work independently acc. to target settings
Intercultural and international experience:
experienced in international cultures and business environment, worked in international Teams for minimum 3 years
Additional Information
Company Description
Continental is a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist. Founded in 1871, the company generated sales of €19.7 billion in 2025 and currently employs around 78,000 people in 54 countries and markets.
ContiTech is one of the world’s leading material experts for industry applications. The Continental group sector offers its customers reliable, safe and convenient industry and service solutions using a range of materials for off-highway applications, on rails and roads, in the air, under and above the ground, in industrial environments, for the food sector and the furniture industry. With about 20,000 employees (Status as of March 2026) at more than 60 sites globally, and sales of some 6.0 billion euros (2025), the global industrial partner is active with core branches in Asia, Europe and North and South America.