EMEA Indirect Sourcing Manager - German speaker

Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company's innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive company, Eastman employs approximately 13,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2025 revenue of approximately $8.8 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.

The Role

This EMEA-based role emphasizes the development of in-depth market insights, driving continuous cost reductions while ensuring product quality and supplier service levels are maintained or enhanced. Additionally, the Sourcing Manager will focus on improving cash flow and will be tasked with evaluating risks and formulating effective mitigation strategies aligned with business objectives.

Location: Rotterdam, the Netherlands or Ghent, Belgium. Our company policy is office presence from Monday - Thursday with Friday optional working from home.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure that strategies are aligned with the business's requirements.
• Negotiation: Leading negotiations with suppliers to secure favorable terms, prices, and contracts. This often requires a deep understanding of market conditions and supplier capabilities.
• Performance Measurement: Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess supplier performance and the effectiveness of sourcing strategies, building into contract agreements
• Continuous Improvement: Staying informed about industry trends and best practices, implementing continuous improvement initiatives to enhance sourcing processes.
• Quality Assurance: Ensuring that the products and services sourced meet the required quality standards. This may involve working closely with quality assurance teams
• Cost Management: Monitoring and controlling procurement costs to ensure they align with the budget. Identifying opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency improvements. Mitigating hidden costs and risk
• Supplier Management: Identifying, evaluating, and selecting suppliers based on quality, cost, and delivery capabilities. Building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers. Looking for Synergies and efficiency opportunities for regional category management opportunities

Category Management

Develop and implement regional category strategies across indirect spend areas, leveraging market intelligence, demand aggregation, and supplier collaboration to deliver value, resilience, and standardization across the EMEA region.

• Contract Management: Create and ensure compliance with contracts in line with Eastman's Icertis framework.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Interface with key stakeholders to align sourcing strategies with business needs.

• Effective Communication: Maintain clear communication and effective management of sourcing activities.

• Data Management: Keep the ServiceNow system updated to reflect live data and actual workloads.

• Strategic Sourcing: Developing and implementing sourcing strategies that align with the company's goals and objectives. This may involve market analysis and trend forecasting.

Qualifications

• Business university degree, comparable qualification in the economic or technical field or a comparable qualification with several years of professional experience in strategic sourcing
• Languages: English & German preferred or one additional EMEA language would be advantageous.

Technical:

• Capable of understanding Sourcing process and management
• Strong negotiation skills:
• Ability to gain mastery of SAP tools
• Ability to gain mastery of Microsoft Office tools
• Ideally knowledge in Ariba or other sourcing tools
• Contract Management Proficiency
• Data Analysis Skills
• Risk Management Knowledge

Eastman Chemical Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, pregnancy, veteran status or any other protected classes as designated by law.

Eastman is committed to creating a highly engaged workforce, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day.