Senior Strategic Direct Procurement Buyer (all genders)

About tonies

tonies is the globally leading interactive audio platform for children with more than 10 million Tonieboxes and 125 million Tonies sold. The intuitive and award‑winning audio system has changed the way young children play and learn independently with its child‑safe, wireless, and screen‑free approach. Tonieboxes have been activated in over 100 countries, the content portfolio includes around 1,400 Tonies in several languages. Since its inception, tonies has achieved significant milestones, including listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in November 2021 and a globally present team of over 550 dedicated professionals operating from various countries.

You as part of tonies

As Senior Strategic Direct Procurement Buyer (all genders) you play a vital role in evolving our global sourcing organization with focus on the procurement category devices. You ensure that our procurement processes are resilient, agile, and built on strong partnerships. Working closely with our Sourcing Hub in Asia, you help shape category strategies and run global RfQ processes from initial market analysis to successful awarding.

In this role, you are a key partner to Product Development. By engaging in the earliest stages of ideation, you facilitate early supplier involvement, ensuring technical feasibility and cost transparency are integrated into our products from day one.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Collaboration: Contribute to creating sourcing strategies for direct procurement, with a dedicated focus on devices.
• Interface Management: Act as a vital bridge between our Düsseldorf headquarters and the Asia Sourcing Hub to ensure global alignment and successful strategy implementation.
• Innovation Partnership: Partner with Product Development during early concept and design phases to integrate supplier expertise and technological trends.
• Resilience & Risk Mitigation: Conduct market research and risk assessments to identify alternative sourcing opportunities (second‑sourcing) and safeguard business continuity.
• Identify & Onboard new suppliers: Run global RfQs with cross‑functional support and coordinate onboarding of new suppliers after awarding.
• Cross‑Functional Alignment: Foster transparent communication between Engineering, Quality, Production, and Supply Chain to harmonise headquarters goals with global execution.
• Analytical Decision Support: Evaluate complex BOMs and market trends to provide clear insights for strategic sourcing decisions.

Qualifications

• Degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in strategic procurement or category management, ideally within the consumer electronics or manufacturing industry.
• Solid understanding of ODM (Original Development Manufacturers), EMS production processes, and the global electronics market.
• Solid understanding of the toy industry including regulatory requirements.
• Ability to assess single‑source risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies, such as stocking agreements or component lifecycle management (EOL).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build relationships across different functions and cultures.
• Fluency in English & conversational level (B2+) in German.
• Willingness to travel internationally (≈20–30%) and a preference for a hybrid working environment.

Benefits

• Global teamwork across departmental and country borders.
• Inclusive workplace culture that encourages authenticity.
• Flexible mobility options: public transport ticket, parking contribution, bicycle leasing, or remote work subsidy.
• Subsidised pension, occupational pension schemes, and disability insurance.
• 30 days paid annual leave plus three additional public holidays and up to 10 unpaid “toniecation days” after one year of employment.
• Continuous learning with internal and external training opportunities and an individual learning budget.
• Language learning app Babbel and relaxation app Calm available to employees.
• Discounts on all tonies products.

Good to know

As part of our principles, we are committed to supporting inclusion and diversity at tonies. We actively celebrate our colleagues’ different abilities, ethnicities, faith and gender. Everyone is welcome and supported in their development at all stages of their journey with us.

We look forward to hearing from you!
Sabine Schykowski
Talent Acquisition Manager