Job Description

Lead (m/f/d) of Direct Procurement

KWS is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking leader to assume the role of Lead (m/f/d) of Direct Procurement within our Global Business Operations team in Berlin. This position offers a compelling opportunity to build, shape, and further develop a Source-to-Pay (S2P) organization on a global scale, with a clear mandate to establish structures, drive decisions, and implement best-in-class procurement practices.

We are looking for a candidate who combines strong strategic capabilities with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset and brings relevant experience from the agri-business sector. In this leadership role, you will report directly to the Head of Source to Pay. You fill the role by defining and executing procurement strategies across direct materials - e.g. treatments, logistics, and packaging while leading and developing an international team of 10–14 category managers and tactical buyers.

Furthermore, you will contribute significantly to the future of procurement at KWS, shaping global standards, processes, and ways of working across the organization.

This is a permanent, full-time position at our Berlin-based entity – KWS Berlin GmbH

Your new responsibilities:

• Shape and drive the global procurement strategy for direct materials such as treatments , logistics, and packaging Lead, develop, and empower a diverse global team as functional and disciplinary manager

• Ensure the effective implementation of procurement strategies aligned with KWS’s overall business objectives

• Collaborate closely with Production, SeedTech, Business Units and Global Functions to build strong stakeholder relationships

• Drive Total Cost of Ownership initiatives and contribute to the reduction of COGS

• Strategically planning and continuously improving procurement processes, systems, and category-specific solutions

• Support global rollouts of S2P-related tools (e.g. SAP TMS, S, S/4-based Order Management, MRP, other self-developed tools)

• Develop and implement global commodity strategies in line with business and market needs

• Ensure compliance with procurement guidelines, ethical standards, and internal policies

• Monitor industry trends and proactively adapt procurement strategies to changing business requirements

• Build long-term, value-creating supplier relationships and ensure effective supply risk management

• Act as the first point of escalation for supplier-related issues and initiate corrective actions

Your skillset:

• Master’s degree in, business administration, supply chain management, or a comparable field

• Extensive experience in strategic procurement within international mid-sized or large organizations; ideally within the agricultural sector or a related industry

• Proven track record in leading teams in complex, global matrix environments

• Strong analytical and negotiation skills

• Solid knowledge of procurement best practices, including budget responsibility, cost analytics, contract management

• A strong growth mindset combined with strategic and operational acumen

• Empathetic leadership style that inspires trust, ownership, and development

• Change-oriented mindset with the ability to challenge the status quo and drive continuous improvement

• Excellent communication skills in English, German would be a good add-on with the ability to engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels

Our Offer:

• Interesting and varied job in a diverse international environment with the opportunity to contribute innovative ideas
• As a family business, we are guided by the values of closeness, reliability, vision and independence; this culture is lived in practice and ensures an open and friendly working atmosphere from day one
• Excellent work equipment and free car and bicycle parking spaces in our modern office in the heart of Berlin-Schöneberg
• We create the appropriate framework conditions for you: capital-forming benefits, Christmas and holiday pay, childcare allowance, 30d holidays, flexible working hours, holiday and Christmas bonuses, company pension scheme, JobRad and/or Jobticket
• True to our motto "Make yourself grow", we support the professional and personal development of our employees

We are looking forward to your application using our online application system SuccessFactors! Please click the “Apply” button which you can find in the online ad.