Senior Strategic Procurement Manager – Direct Procurement

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 as well as a globally present team of over 550 dedicated professionals operating from various countries.Joining our tonies team means being part of an inspiring mission to create innovative and meaningful experiences for children around the world. Together, we’re shaping the future of play, learning, and imagination. You as part of tonies: As Senior Strategic Procurement Manager – Direct Procurement (all genders), you lead the strategic development and transformation of tonies’ Direct Procurement function, ensuring Procurement drives fast, reliable, resilient, and cost-efficient business continuity while positioning itself as a value-adding business partner. You define and implement category strategies, shape the RfQ process — including timelines and award support — and act as the central contact for strategic procurement decisions. Responsible for setting standards, integrating strategic processes into daily operations, and leading the Direct Procurement team, you combine hands-on contribution with strategic leadership. Based in Düsseldorf, you serve as the key link between tonies headquarters and global sourcing operations, guiding the Sourcing Hub in Asia and ensuring coordinated, aligned execution worldwide. Your tasks and responsibilities will include: Lead the strategic development and transformation of Direct Procurement, developing strategy and ensuring global consistency.Define and implement category strategies across all direct procurement categories.Serve as the central contact for strategic procurement decisions, setting standards and aligning operations globally between HQ, the Sourcing Hub, and local markets.Develop strategies to mitigate geopolitical, material, and logistics-related risks.Shape and manage the RfQ process with the Sourcing Hub, including timelines, specifications, awarding, and alignment with category and resilience objectives.Provide market intelligence, supplier evaluations, and strategic guidance to support sourcing and supplier strategy.Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Development, Engineering, Quality, Production, and Supply Chain to enable early procurement involvement and support innovation, quality, and cost goals.Translate business needs into actionable sourcing strategies supporting tonies’ innovation, quality, and cost goals.Lead, mentor, and develop the Direct Procurement team, fostering strategic ownership and professionalization of processes, tools, and templates.Act as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, providing insights for decision-making and driving procurement excellence. What we are looking for: Degree in Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or related field (preferred).8+ years of experience in strategic procurement, category management, or global sourcing, ideally in consumer electronics, consumer goods, or manufacturing.Proven success in developing and executing global sourcing and resilience strategies.Strong understanding of international supply markets (Electronic market know-how preferred), supplier dynamics, and cost structures Leadership experience with strong coaching and stakeholder management skills.Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach and high execution capability.Fluency in English; German or Mandarin language skills are advantageous.Willingness to travel internationally (approx. 20–30%) and to work in a hybrid setup with 2–3 on-site days per week in Düsseldorf. Why tonies? Global Teamwork: We collaborate across departmental and country borders on our vision to bring the Toniebox into every child's room in the world.Come as you are: This applies not only to the dress code but also to everything else. Because only where you truly feel comfortable can you give your best.Mobility: Choose the option that suits you best - a Deutschlandticket (public transport ticket) for unlimited mobility, a monthly contribution for an office parking space, a leasing bicycle, or a remote work subsidy.Enhanced Security: Benefit from subsidies for company pension plans, occupational pension schemes, and occupational disability insurance.Rest & Time Off: Enjoy 30 days of paid annual leave as well as three additional days off such as Rosenmontag, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve. After one year of employment, you can also use up to 10 "toniecation days" (unpaid leave days).Continuous Learning: Benefit from our internal and external training opportunities as well as an individual learning budget to continuously expand your knowledge.Language Learning & Relaxation: Improve your communication skills with the language learning app Babbel and find relaxation through our access to the meditation app Calm.Discounts: Benefit from attractive discounts on our entire range of 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 in their journey with us. We look forward to hearing from youSabine SchykowskiTalent Acquisition Manager