Knauf stands for opportunity. We know that opportunity looks different to each person and we are proud that we see opportunity in everyone. This exciting role within Knauf Insulation could be the perfect next opportunity for you to build a unique career, in a values-led culture with a clear purpose of making tomorrow a home for all of us.

Knauf Insulation is proud to be part of the Knauf Group, a global manufacturer of construction materials. Our division is approaching 50 years of heritage in manufacturing insulation, with a growing global reach in 40 countries and ambitious goals for the future. We are looking for passionate, ambitious people to join our 6,000-strong team and help us achieve these goals. We are all led by the same core values and believe in the powerful potential of large companies to have a positive impact on the world.

The expansion of the Procurement Department means we are now looking to recruit new Lead Purchaser Capex Projects in Skofja Loka, Slovenia OR Visé Belgium and reporting to the Head of Procurement.

Can you say ‘yes’?...

• Can you set sourcing plans and establish a tendering guideline?

• Do you have strong negotiation skills?

• Do you experience with contracts (SLAs, Warranties, penalties, etc)?

• Can you lead/coordinate team?

As Lead Purchaser, you'd be leading and owning the end-to-end CAPEX procurement agenda across the project portfolio — defining sourcing strategy, enforcing compliance and governance, and aligning cross-functional stakeholders — by leading and developing other members of the CAPEX procurement team to secure best value for money, robust risk management, and on-time delivery to scope and schedule in line with Knauf Group standards.

What you’ll be doing:

Strategic Leadership

·         Define and implement the CAPEX procurement strategy per project aligned with manufacturing and investment roadmaps.

·         Steer sourcing decisions and stage-gate reviews; ensure clear decision rights and escalation paths.

·         Build capability across the CAPEX procurement community; lead and develop central and local team members.

Governance and Compliance

·         Establish robust governance frameworks in accordance with Knauf Group policies and Knauf Insulation standards.

·         Ensure adherence to contracting standards, warranties, penalties, payment terms, and international trade compliance.

·         Embed controls for tendering, approvals, vendor onboarding, and contract management; drive audit readiness.

Portfolio and Project Delivery

·         Navigate all stages of CAPEX projects, ensuring milestone achievement, best value for money, and on-time delivery including expediting.

·         Coordinate cross-functional cooperation with Engineering (central and regional), Project Management, and Finance.

·         Oversee multiple large-scale projects annually (indicative range €10–230m per project), balancing scope, quality, risk, and schedule.

·         Support Radical CAPEX reduction strategies identified in the strategic Knauf Insulation F100 program

Negotiation and Contracting Excellence

·         Lead complex, multi-variable negotiations (cost, warranties, LDs/penalties, logistics, Incoterms, payment conditions).

·         Set negotiation roadmaps and total cost of ownership (TCO) targets; protect Knauf’s interests across all purchasing activities.

·         Finalize strategic contracts and purchase orders with Legal and Contract Management support.

·         Claim management and mitigation

Technical and Cost Expertise

·         Develop expertise in key production machinery categories; understand cost structures and cost drivers and understand best sourcing regions and strategies

·         Evaluate and compare engineering specifications to ensure optimal technical-commercial outcomes.

Procurement Operations Oversight

·         Govern end-to-end processes: RFQ issuance, bid evaluation with Engineering, negotiations, and PO approval workflows.

·         Ensure accurate invoice approvals, vendor creation controls, and clean master data governance.

·         Ensure preparation and execution of project related procurement strategies.

·         Lead preparation of main CAPEX contracts (buildings, primary equipment) with Legal and Contract Management.

Quality Assurance and Performance Management

·         Define and track KPIs and reporting for CAPEX procurement performance, savings, risk, and cash/budget impacts.

·         On-time supply and completion including supplier expediting, related logistic and customs operations

Stakeholder and Cross-Team Management

·         Act as the bridge between Central Purchasing, Project Management and KI central & regional Engineering; align priorities and resolve issues.

·         Collaborate with regional Operations on logistics and customs; ensure smooth cross-border execution.

·         Partner with Cost Controlling on budget reporting, cash demand planning, and availability.

·         Engage Legal to set up and manage contracts; maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Strategic Development and Continuous Improvement

·         Analyze local spend and market opportunities; identify alternative sources and competitive options.

·         Develop cost reduction programs and supplier partnerships; strengthen SRM and long-term value creation.

·         Maintain trusted relationships with key suppliers and senior internal stakeholders.

What we’d love for you to have:

We are interested in you as a person; your attitude, behaviours and values. As long as you have the willingness to learn anything you need for the role that you don't already have, we'd love to speak to you. We're looking for someone who has

·         Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or Procurement preferred.

·         8–12+ years in technical purchasing, ideally in multinational CAPEX environments.

·         Proven track record of stakeholder management and alignment in global, cross-functional, matrixed environments.

·         Demonstrated expertise in complex negotiations and international trade/customs.

·         Proven track record in supplier performance & contracts management

·         Strong technical understanding to evaluate engineering specifications and identify cost drivers.

·         Proven leadership expertise of multinational teams and in strategy development and rollout.

·         Experience with contracts (SLAs, warranties, penalties, performance bonds).

·         Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus.

·         Willingness to travel (approx. 30–40%) for supplier audits, negotiations, and project milestones.

·         Knowledge of SAP system

·         Strong negotiation skills

·         Strategic thinking and structured governance.

·         Ability to develop a strong internal network and ensure good stakeholder cooperation & executive communication.

·         Entrepreneurship and problem-solving under time and cost constraints.

·         Partnership and cross-team facilitation.

·         Data-Driven Decision-Making skills and who is comfortable with digital tools (e.g., CRM, contract management).

We will provide:

As this is a central, international position, the package and associated benefits will be those of the contract's host country. Our common criterion was to build a comprehensive salary package that stands out in the market.

On top of that, a dedicated time for personal development and potential for leadership training will be provided.

What happens next?

We appreciate that your time is precious and applying for a new job can be a lengthy process - so we have committed to replying to your application within five working days.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I) reinforces our Knauf Insulation values of Making Tomorrow a Home for all of us. We are committed to creating a workplace where we all can thrive, whoever we are, and inspiring a culture of inclusion and innovation that will drive future business success. We do our best to make sure being at work feels like home. To learn more about our business and culture go here (People & Culture - Knauf Insulation Western Europe)

If there are any other ways that you need to receive this job information, please contact us at dany.wolf@knaufinsulation.com