Commodity Manager
Cambourne, UK | 37 Hours per Week
Carl Zeiss Microscopy is seeking an experienced Commodity Manager to join its Supply Chain team in Cambourne. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a global organisation renowned for its high-technology systems and innovation.
The successful candidate will be responsible for managing a dedicated commodity area and developing global procurement strategies across multiple ZEISS sites in the UK and Germany. This role plays a key part in ensuring supply security, managing supplier relationships, and supporting the delivery of complex, high-technology products.
The Role
As a Commodity Manager, you will work closely with colleagues across Supply Chain, R&D, NPI and Production to manage supplier performance, drive innovation and ensure the resilience of the supply chain.
Key Responsibilities
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Develop and implement cross-site commodity strategies across ZEISS locations in the UK and Germany
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Conduct global procurement market analysis and identify suitable suppliers
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Select, qualify and manage suppliers in collaboration with production teams
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Ensure supply security by monitoring risks and maintaining a resilient supply chain
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Identify and onboard new suppliers to drive innovation and competitiveness
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Lead contract negotiations with national and international suppliers
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Manage pricing benchmarks and cost negotiations to achieve savings targets
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Collaborate with operational purchasing, strategic purchasing and NPI teams
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Support the development of standardised supply chain processes, KPIs and IT tools
About You
We are looking for a commercially minded professional with strong analytical and negotiation skills who thrives in a collaborative, international environment.
Essential Skills & Experience
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Strong technical knowledge within your assigned commodity area
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Experience working with complex or high-technology products
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Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
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Strong negotiation skills, including experience with international contracts
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Analytical and structured approach to problem solving
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Ability to develop and implement innovative supply chain solutions
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Proficiency with SAP (particularly MM modules) and Microsoft Office
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Ability to manage and analyse large data sets and present key insights
Qualifications
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5+ years’ experience in international supply chain management or procurement
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Degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent relevant experience)
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Fluent English (German language skills are advantageous)
Additional Information
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Location: ZEISS House, Cambourne, UK
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✈ Travel: Occasional travel to Germany and supplier locations (up to 20%)
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Hours: 37 hours per week
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Salary: Competitive Salary
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Benefits: Standard ZEISS Ltd benefits package including discretionary annual bonus
Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:
Abigail Hannaby, Charlotte Marriage, Farzana Rahman, Kate Benyon, Natarlee Lawrence, Suya Rolph
