Procurement Lead

Role Purpose

The Procurement Manager will lead procurement strategy and sourcing activities for Real Estate and Workplace Services across Zeiss offices, labs, and manufacturing locations. This role focuses on achieving cost efficiency, supplier performance excellence, sustainability compliance, and supporting Zeiss’ global operational expansion. The position requires close collaboration with Corporate Real Estate, Facilities, Engineering, Legal, EHS, Finance, and business stakeholders to ensure reliable, high-quality workplace environments aligned with the Zeiss brand and scientific precision standards.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Sourcing

• Develop and execute category strategies for Real Estate & Workplace Services aligned with Zeiss global sourcing frameworks.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing for:
• Office expansions, relocations & refurbishment projects
• Construction & interior fit-outs
• Facilities Management services (MEP/AMC, HVAC, housekeeping, cafeteria, landscaping, pest control)
• Security services and office supplies contracts
• Conduct cost benchmarking, market analysis, and supply risk assessments to inform sourcing decisions.
• Deliver measurable savings and value creation while maintaining Zeiss’ quality and compliance standards.

Supplier & Contract Management

• Manage strategic suppliers, ensuring consistent performance and continuous improvement.
• Drive RFP/RFI/RFQ processes, commercial negotiations, and contract finalization in collaboration with Legal.
• Track supplier SLAs, KPIs, escalation plans, incident resolution, and corrective action measures.
• Ensure suppliers adhere to Zeiss sustainability, EHS, data privacy, and ethical procurement policies.

Real Estate & Workplace Collaboration

• Partner with Corporate Real Estate (CRE) and Workplace teams to plan and execute site development and facility upgrade projects.
• Support lease evaluation and negotiation for site expansions, new office setups, and renewals.
• Develop procurement project plans, track timelines, manage documentation, and ensure on-time execution.

Stakeholder & Business Partner Management

• Act as a strategic advisor to Facility Operations, Engineering, and Business units regarding vendor proposals and commercial terms.
• Align procurement initiatives with financial targets, workplace experience goals, and operational continuity.
• Present sourcing recommendations, business cases, and cost models to leadership for approvals.

Compliance, Governance & Sustainability

• Ensure full adherence to Zeiss Procurement Governance Framework and audit controls.
• Maintain supplier risk registers; implement mitigation and performance improvement actions.
• Contribute to Zeiss sustainability & supplier diversity initiatives, including low-emission operations and responsible sourcing.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline (MBA preferred).
• 5–10 years of procurement experience with strong exposure to Real Estate, Facilities Management, Construction, or Workplace Services.
• Experience within regulated, high-quality, or technology-driven environments (e.g., medical devices, manufacturing, R&D) preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in commercial negotiations, contract management, and supplier governance.
• Strong project management experience in multi-site / cross-functional environments.

Key Skills

• Category strategy & cost modeling
• Vendor governance & relationship management
• Strong negotiation & commercial judgment
• Cross-functional stakeholder alignment
• Project execution in time-sensitive environments
• Excellent communication and presentation ability
• High standards of integrity, compliance, and attention to detail