Nippon Sanso is one of the leading companies in the industrial and medical gases business in Europe. Serving over 150,000 customers and 350,000 patients across 14 countries, we offer a comprehensive range of gas-based solutions tailored to sectors including healthcare, food, electronics, manufacturing, chemicals, electronics, and energy among many others.
We are hiring for our European Procurement department a Tactical Buyer who will be responsible for executing the procurement strategy of assigned categories at both regional and local levels, ensuring operational excellence and compliance with internal and external regulations. The Tactical Buyer would be based in our European headquarters in Madrid, reporting to Procurement Manager for Germany, also based in Madrid.
The Tactical Buyer will manage the full procurement lifecycle for CAPEX and OPEX purchases, support strategic sourcing initiatives, and contribute to category development in alignment with European procurement guidelines, working closely with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to define technical specifications and project requirements, while maintaining accurate procurement data and documentation across digital tools.
We are looking for a seasoned professional, delivering high-value procurement processes, supporting third-party vendor selection, vendor development, technology management, and performance accountability to enable project success and achieve year-on-year productivity gains, cost savings, and process enhancements in close collaboration with business stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities:
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Manage the full procurement lifecycle for CAPEX and OPEX purchases, including tendering, bid evaluation, contract negotiation, and accurate documentation in SAP/SAP S/4HANA.
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Execute category strategies aligned with regional and European procurement guidelines, supporting strategic sourcing and contributing to category development.
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Collaborate with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to define technical specifications and project requirements.
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Conduct supplier assessments and performance reviews, monitor market trends and cost structures, and prepare reports on savings, KPIs, and supplier performance.
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Ensure compliance with internal policies, legal regulations, ethical standards, and support risk management through end-to-end process monitoring and corrective actions.
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Plan and manage procurement-related projects, defining scope, priorities, budgets, and using tools to track and report status.
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Apply financial knowledge in budgeting, sourcing strategies, and structuring complex deals with ecosystem partners.
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Build effective relationships with stakeholders and suppliers to support procurement objectives and identify innovative solutions that deliver savings and process efficiencies.
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Facilitate procurement change initiatives and implement category or commodity strategies to improve business performance.
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Promote best practices and contribute to the development and leadership of cross functional teams.
Job requirements
Background:
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Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering or related field.
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MBA or other master’s degree would be valuable.
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Fluent German (C1-C2) and English is required. Other European languages would be a plus.
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At least 5 years of experience in tactical or operational procurement, preferably within industrial or manufacturing environments.
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Proven track record in managing CAPEX and OPEX procurement projects, including tendering, supplier evaluation, and contract negotiation.
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Proficiency in SAP and SAP S/4HANA procurement modules.
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Strong experience in managing KPIs, dashboards, and reporting tools.
Required Skills:
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Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, combined with high attention to detail and a data‑driven approach to decision-making.
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Commercially minded, with proven ability to negotiate, influence, and manage stakeholders effectively.
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Excellent planning, organizational, and project management skills, enabling you to deliver results and meet deadlines while handling multiple priorities.
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to build trusted relationships across the organization.
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Confident problem‑solver, comfortable navigating complex business environments and applying strategic influence across functions and networks.
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Able to thrive in fast‑paced environments, balancing multiple priorities with agility and focus.
Others:
Availability to travel to Germany once or twice a month (around 10-20%)
Why join Nippon Sanso?
At Nippon Sanso, we’re a reliable partner for key industries, combining global expertise with a local touch to make a real difference. Guided by our commitment to sustainability, we drive innovation through cutting-edge technology and a strong R&D network. Here, you’ll have the autonomy to own your career, with the chance to work on projects that impact communities and shape a carbon-neutral future.
Discover a place where you’ll play a key role in solutions that power major industries and make a difference in everyday life. At Nippon Sanso, our technologies support countless essential processes — often behind the scenes — that keep food fresh, enhance electronic chip production, purify water, and provide critical respiratory treatments. With a solid, diversified presence across Europe, we’re a reliable and stable company dedicated to constant innovation and to creating a healthier, more sustainable future.
What we offer
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Remuneration and Benefits : We offer a range of bonuses, long-term incentives, competitive salaries, which we review each year to remain competitive in the market. In addition, we have a wide range of benefits as a company, you can choose what suits you best: childcare, transport card, pension plan, sports package, health insurance, etc.
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Worklife balance : We have 29 days off a year! Plus, the 24th and 31st of December.
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Flexible schedule : You'll have the freedom to adjust your work hours to accommodate your personal needs and responsibilities.
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Home Office Policy : With our hybrid work plan, you can enjoy working from the comfort of your home.
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Diversity and inclusion : Be part of an inclusive, diverse culture, where everyone’s contribution is respected. A place where individual talent is recognised and nurtured.
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Sustainability : We enable a carbon neutral world. Nippon Gases spearheads the efforts to achieving zero CO2 emissions by helping industries in transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
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Safety first : We create a safe environment where our employees can thrive. In the past two decades, we have been honored 17 times as the safest company in Europe by the Industrial Gases Association (EIGA).
