Lead Expert Project Buyer (m/f/d)

Lead Expert Project Buyer (m/f/d)
Location: Dubnica nad Váhom, Slovakia
Type of job: Hybrid

Company Description
LEONI is a global leading provider of products, solutions and services for energy and data management in the automotive industry. With around 86,000 employees in 21 countries and consolidated sales of EUR 3.9 billion in 2025, we are a leading supplier of complex wiring systems and customer‑specific cable harnesses.

We believe that meaningful connections — between people, technologies, and ideas — are key to innovation and success. That is why at LEONI, you will become part of a diverse and international team working together to shape the future of mobility: from autonomous driving to alternative powertrains and smart charging solutions.

Since 2025, we have been part of the Luxshare Group, a global technology company headquartered in China. Together, we are shaping the future of mobility.

Join us and help drive the transformation of the automotive world.

Job Description
Project Purchasing manages all strategic purchasing activities from the RFQ phase through to the end of the project lifecycle. This includes preparing robust and competitive material costings, supporting order intake success, and ensuring alignment with strategic purchasing goals. The department is accountable for achieving Strategic Purchasing Business Plan commitments and shares responsibility for meeting overall project objectives, with a strong focus on P&
L performance.

Task Description

Project Lifecycle Purchasing
- Manages purchasing tasks from customer RFQ through Start of Production (SOP) to End of Life (EOL) in line with purchasing standards and strategies, internal and external requirements
- Manages Purchasing activities in pre-development projects, including global sourcing of new components, new product families, new technologies, new suppliers in close collaboration with CTO Development
- Analyzes and edits Bills of Material (BOMs) to ensure material cost competitiveness and alignment with project targets
- Conducts global inquiries for all relevant parts (new, serial, development) across the full product lifecycle, including change management process (e.g. PCR)
- Contributes to make-or-buy decisions by evaluating material costs and integrating Purchasing strategies in close alignment with Category Management
- Negotiates costs and conditions with suppliers for assigned projects, considering Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), in close alignment with Category Management
- Develops Purchasing Concept for Customer Projects, including Business Plan deliverables, risks, opportunities and premises
- Manages material cost targets throughout the project lifecycle and reports performance.
- Identifies and steers implementation of cost reduction opportunities using all available levers (e.g., negotiation, resourcing, VAVE, localization, etc.).
- Drafts and manages project specific supplier agreements (e.g. Project Lifetime Agreements, Tooling Agreements), ensuring legal and commercial robustness.
- Contributes to the supplier qualification and release process, particularly for onboarding new suppliers aligned with project requirements in close collaboration with Supplier Quality Management and Category Management
- Initiates, prepares and leads supplier sourcing events for new business awards in close collaboration with Category Management
- Ensures timely availability of critical data, including Business Plan input, commercial aspects, system prices, prototype cost and lead-time to enable seamless ordering by the plants
- Monitors and escalates milestone and capacity adherence for tooled components in collaboration with Advanced Supplier Quality Management (APQP)
- Supports special projects, initiatives and tasks assigned by senior leadership

Strategic Integration &
Collaboration
- Acts as the Strategic Purchasing interface across departments including sales, development, quality, controlling, production, etc.
- Represents Strategic Purchasing in project kick-offs, gate / milestone reviews, risk assessments and business plan meetings.
- Integrates global purchasing aspects into project teams and ensure bidirectional information flow, e.g. about market trends, new technologies, etc.

Compliance &
Standards
- Ensures adherence to internal standards, legal requirements, and environmental/safety regulations.

Qualifications and Experience

Functional/Professional
- BOM analysis, ABC analysis, cost-benefit analysis
- Purchasing agreements and service level agreements
- Project coordination, tracking, and reporting
- Performance measurement and gap analysis
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Strategic Sourcing

Methodological
- Benchmarking
- Performance Measurement
- Negotiation skills
- Presentation skills
- Contract Management
- Project management, presentation, and reporting
- Big data analytics and data visualization

IT Tools
- Purchasing applications and reporting tools
- Spreadsheet, word processing, desktop publishing
- Internet and email proficiency

Benefits

Financial Benefits:
- 13th salary upon achieving agreed targets
- 4% contribution to the Supplementary Pension Scheme (3rd pillar)
- Financial bonuses (for commuting, improvement suggestions, employee referrals, etc.)
- Rewards for various milestones (wedding, childbirth, years of service, blood donation, etc.)
- Regular salary increases

Working Conditions &
Flexibility:
- 37.5-hour work week
- 4 extra days off (so-called sick days)
- Flexible working hours
- Subsidized meals in a company restaurant/canteen
- Home office according to internal policies

Educational Activities &
Health Support:
- Language learning
- SEDUO – e-learning education platform
- Participation in conferences and workshops
- Health days and vitamin packages
- Personal development in various areas with career growth opportunities

Additional Benefits:
- Discount benefits (Cafeteria Edenred program, LEONI IT bazaar, etc.)
- Material gifts (welcome package, LEONI branded items, etc.)
- Company events and team activities

Basic gross guaranteed salary:
for junior position: from 2000 EUR/Brutto + 13th salary
Salary will be determined on an individual level based on the candidate's experience and skills.

People of all genders are always meant equally; for linguistic simplification and better readability, only the masculine form is used in the text.

LEONI processes your application data in an IT-system that is consistent across the company and uses Foreign Service providers. By sending your application, you agree to this procedure. LEONI ensures the compliance with data protection.