Senior Buyer

Who we are:

Founded in Japan in 1887, Kao is passionate about making a difference in people's lives with our high-quality products and services to create a Kirei Life for all - a beautiful life that respects the needs of our consumers and customers as well as the planet. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. As a company driven by purpose and strong corporate values, we pride ourselves on being listed among the World's Most Ethical Companies for 16 consecutive years. Our corporate philosophy, the Kao Way, guides us in everything we do - acting with integrity, driving innovation, and treating each other with trust and respect.

The role:

This position can be based in either the UK or Germany and requires fluency in both languages.

The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating outsourcing activities related to New Product Development (NPD), vendor management, and routine procurement operations across the Salon, Consumer Care, and Molton Brown sectors within the KAO Beauty business in the EMEA region.

What you will do:

• Negotiate and manage costs associated with outsourced finished products in the EMEA region, including compounding, filling, administration, logistics, minimum order quantities, and payment terms with Third Party Manufacturers (3PM).
• Manage a portfolio of strategic vendors, perform regular evaluations, and ensure vendors meet performance objectives related to costs, ESG criteria, and OTIF delivery.
• Collaborate with internal teams to brief 3PMs on new product development projects, including tendering, commercial analysis, and supplier selection.
• Coordinate with 3PMs and supply planning to secure initial production capacity for new product launches.
• Identify and qualify potential new 3PMs in line with business needs, with support from relevant departments.
• Work with Vendors and sourcing teams to implement and monitor open book calculations and purchase price variance files.
• Establish and develop legal agreements with strategic vendors within the EMEA region.
• Provide expertise on outsourcing topics to internal teams to support critical business decisions.

What you will need:

• Degree or equivalent (Bachelor in Business or CIPS preferred).
• Fluent in English and German.
• Experience assessing the capabilities of 3rd party manufacturers.
• At least 2 years of experience in FMCG sector in strategic outsourcing, including contract negotiations and vendor management.
• Intermediate/expert knowledge of SAP (MM/FTF).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Strong financial acumen and commercial awareness.

How we work:

As one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 16 years, we are committed to quality, sustainability, and integrity. We foster a collaborative environment where each employee can shape their career and contribute to our shared goals.

What we offer:

A friendly, flexible workplace with competitive salary, benefits, ongoing development, and opportunities to grow. Your ideas and entrepreneurial spirit are valued and rewarded.

Hiring Process:

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds. Join us and be part of a global community of over 33,000 employees. Learn more at Kao EMEA .