ABOUT DEPARTER - THE KNOW-WHO PEOPLE
Departer is a leading German Executive Search firm with over 20 years of experience in global leadership recruitment. We specialize in placing executives in medium-sized enterprises and private equity portfolio firms across DACH, MEAI, ASIA, and ANZ regions. With a deep understanding of the DACH economy, we facilitate successful placements within global management teams across corporate headquarters and entities abroad.
Our Austrian client is a leading international organization operating across multiple markets, with a strong focus on innovation, operational excellence, and strategic growth within the telecommunications and consumer electronics sector. They are currently seeking a Sourcing Manager / Category Manager / Market Expert to drive procurement strategy and execution for consumer electronics and second-life devices. This role offers significant ownership, regional exposure, and the opportunity to directly influence sourcing performance and supplier partnerships.
Your duties and responsibilities will include:
- Act as an alternative sourcing channel for regional operating companies and own the end-to-end sourcing process from order to delivery
- Identify sourcing opportunities through market analysis and supplier benchmarking
- Develop and implement multi-sourcing strategies to ensure competitive pricing and supply continuity
- Design and optimize logistics flows for sourcing consumer electronics across multiple countries
- Lead RFx processes, including supplier selection, evaluation, and onboarding
- Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, supply conditions, and long-term agreements
- Manage the full product lifecycle from sourcing to after-sales considerations, including warranty aspects
- Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key suppliers and vendors
- Serve as the primary point of contact for supplier communication and performance management
- Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including supply chain, finance, legal, and operations teams
- Monitor supplier performance, delivery timelines, and service quality
- Analyze market price dynamics and industry trends within the consumer electronics space
- Ensure risk mitigation strategies are in place for supply continuity
- Support continuous improvement initiatives across procurement and logistics processes
To be successful in this role, you should have the following skills and experiences:
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field
- Proven experience in sourcing, procurement, and logistics of consumer electronics across multiple geographies
- Strong understanding of electronics markets, including pricing dynamics, after-sales support, and warranty structures
- Demonstrated expertise in supplier management and contract negotiations
- Experience managing RFx processes and sourcing strategies
- Excellent analytical and commercial acumen
- Fluency in English; additional languages are an advantage
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to manage complex supplier ecosystems across different regions
- Experience building and maintaining supplier relationships within the consumer electronics industry (preferred)
- Strategic mindset with a hands-on, results-driven approach
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work cross-functionally in an international environment