Global Commodity Buyer, Indirect Materials

Description

We’re looking for a Global Commodity Buyer to own Indirect Materials purchasing across Hal Leonard’s US and European operations. It’s a new seat in our Global Purchasing function, where each buyer owns one commodity end-to-end across all regions. Indirect spend is currently bought locally by each site. Your job is to bring it under one owner, consolidate the supplier base and put the right contracts in place.

We are actively integrating AI and automation into all areas of the business and expect candidates with a mindset focused on improving efficiency and delivering a better user experience.

What’s in it for you:

• Real ownership from day one. You’ll take on a new global commodity with no previous owner, and shape its category structure, supplier base and contracts yourself.
• Visible business impact. You’ll see the results of your work directly in the company’s costs, and your work keeps the production floor running across the US and Europe.
• Modern, AI-first procurement. You’ll help build the new setup with AI-assisted approvals, spend analytics and guided buying, so your time goes into negotiation and strategy rather than paperwork.

Key responsibilities

• Own Indirect Materials purchasing globally: print production materials (paper, ink), packaging, warehouse consumables, material handling equipment, MRO and spare parts, facility services, site and equipment leases, office supplies, IT hardware, and recurring services and subscriptions.
• Build the baseline. Map indirect spend by site, supplier and category, and set up a contract and renewal register.
• Consolidate volumes across sites and regions, run tenders and RFQs, and negotiate framework agreements on standard terms.
• Manage contract renewals so nothing auto-renews or misses a notice date. Prepare renegotiations well ahead of key dates.
• Build long-term supplier partnerships, with SLAs, regular performance reviews and risk management for materials that keep production running.
• Set up guided buying: catalogues and preferred suppliers in our procure-to-pay system, plus clear rules on what goes through a company card and what needs a PO.
• Work AI-first. Use AI-assisted approvals, spend analytics and automated renewal alerts instead of manual handling.
• Partner with budget holders, site managers and Finance. You advise and contract, they keep ownership of their budgets.
• Report on spend, savings and supplier performance to the Global Purchasing Manager.

Requirements

• 4–7+ years in purchasing, including hands-on indirect procurement (production materials, packaging, MRO, facilities, services or leases). Ideally gained in manufacturing, printing, distribution or logistics, across more than one country.
• A track record of supplier consolidation and documented savings on indirect spend, including running tenders.
• Contract management experience: framework agreements, SLAs, lease and service contracts, renewals.
• Experience with spend analysis and procure-to-pay setup: catalogues, guided buying, purchasing card policies.
• Comfort with AI is essential. You see AI-assisted approval and automated workflows as leverage and can judge what to automate and what to keep human.
• Strong stakeholder skills: you can influence budget holders and site managers without taking over their budgets.
• Discipline with data: clean supplier records, an up-to-date contract register, and nothing that lives only in your head.
• An ownership mindset: you ask critical questions, communicate directly and come with solutions, not just problems.
• Fluent English.

Nice to have:

• Experience buying paper or print materials.
• Experience with Coupa or a similar P2P tool, and with NetSuite. Purchasing experience during an ERP migration.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain or a related field. NEVI, CIPS or an equivalent certification.
• Dutch or other European languages.