Senior Buyer

Cordstrap is a global leader in protection engineering, helping industrial companies move goods while protecting products, people, and facilities. The Senior Buyer is responsible for the strategic development and optimization of the procurement processes for several product groups. An occasionally challenging role, but certainly one where significant impact can be made.

About Cordstrap

For six decades, Cordstrap has been driven by the belief that there is a better way to transport goods safely. Its expert engineers work with clients to identify risks throughout the supply chain and design tailored solutions. By continuously measuring impact and improving outcomes, Cordstrap helps operations stay safe, efficient, and sustainable.

With five hundred employees across 22 countries and a presence in more than fifty markets, the company blends global reach and multinational professionalism with an entrepreneurial and customer-centric culture. Supported by long-term, private shareholders, every team and every solution is designed to deliver tangible results, maximize safety, and support growth. However, even as the organization expands, its culture remains highly entrepreneurial and agile, with continuous attention to innovation and sustainability.

Shaping the future of procurement
Cordstrap stands at an important moment in its development. The company has established a strong and stable reputation in the market for providing expert advice and the highest quality products and services. Its professional supply chain spans three manufacturing sites in the Netherlands, Dubai, and Turkey, operating within a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment that is constantly evolving. Procurement is evolving alongside the business, creating room to reinforce its strategic relevance and deliver measurable value that supports growth. To support the transformation, the company is attracting a driven and proactive Senior Buyer to lead the strategic development and optimization of the procurement process across multiple product groups.

Vacancy: Senior Buyer

The Netherlands-based procurement team is small but highly capable, consisting of three professionals who manage all tactical and strategic decisions for a significant spend. Reporting directly to the Global Procurement Director, the Senior Buyer is the most senior member of the team. Together with the Director and colleagues, the Senior Buyer helps refine the procurement policy, improve processes and systems, and develop strong sourcing strategies for key categories. In addition, the Senior Buyer takes the lead on major multi-disciplinary projects, ensuring alignment across functions and successful delivery.

The environment in which the Senior Buyer operates is complex and intellectually challenging. Besides managing different categories, the procurement team drives and supports a variety of multi-disciplined projects, including outsourcing, new product development, portfolio optimization, and cost-reduction efforts. This requires the team to bring together commercial acumen and technical understanding, combined with a proactive attitude that drives effective decision-making.

Central role in the organization
Yet this role goes far beyond managing categories from a distance. It is deeply embedded within the organization, distinguishing it from a more traditional buyer position. Cordstrap’s innovation hub, R&D specialists and engineering teams develop new ideas at pace, and procurement is often the first in line to translate those concepts into concrete sourcing opportunities. The Senior Buyer works closely with colleagues across sales, supply chain, portfolio management, product development, innovation, and operations to assess feasibility and identify opportunities for value creation or cost-saving.

Beyond being a key liaison within the organization and managing stakeholders effectively, there is substantial work to be done within the procurement department itself. Contracting structures, sourcing strategies, and supplier performance frameworks have grown organically over time and now need to be modernized, sharpened, and more formalized to align with the company’s long-term ambitions. Supplier networks must be expanded, contracts strengthened, and decisions increasingly guided by data and tools such as AI. The Senior Buyer will drive this professionalization by structuring and standardizing processes, enabling the team to act proactively rather than respond ad hoc, as is still too often the case. This calls for a professional who is not only skilled in designing strong processes but also fully comfortable creating structure within an environment that is still evolving – a Senior Buyer who can implement improvements while delivering impact from day one.

The external dimension is equally important. Cordstrap is preparing for broader supplier networks and more opportunities to leverage cost, quality, service and innovation advantages. A Senior Buyer in this context scans the market actively, builds relationships with potential partners, attends events and maintains a feel for shifting conditions and new opportunities. Existing contracts are continuously challenged, re-evaluated, and optimized. Being entrepreneurial, commercially minded and decisive is crucial – particularly in a period where the company aims to raise the bar on professional standards.

Success in this role requires a proactive approach and a natural curiosity for manufacturing, chemicals, or similar industrial settings. It also demands strong cross-functional collaboration and the ability to step beyond the boundaries of one’s own discipline. The Senior Buyer thrives on collaborating with engineers and R&D professionals, exchanging ideas and contributing to innovative solutions.

“The Senior Buyer brings curiosity, initiative, and a hands-on mindset. This is a role for a professional who can navigate complex manufacturing environments, engage naturally with colleagues across the organization, and isn’t afraid to make decisions. Someone who views procurement as a strategic lever that directly influences the competitiveness of the entire organization.” – Myriam El Mourabit, Global Procurement Director

This is a role for someone who thrives on building and taking ownership. The ideal candidate feels at ease shaping processes in an environment where not everything is structured yet, and they know how to create momentum rather than wait for perfect conditions. Cordstrap offers a high degree of freedom to operate and direct access to the organization’s leadership team. Influence is tangible, and procurement decisions have a visible impact on the company’s performance. The position is uniquely suited for someone looking to further strengthen a flourishing, future-proof organization.

Interested?

Cordstrap is working with Top of Minds to fill this vacancy.
To express your interest, please contact Stephanie Stuit at stephanie.stuit@topofminds.com