The Supplier Specialist is responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and improving supplier performance with a focus on On Time Delivery (OTD), quality, responsiveness, and overall supply reliability.
The role drives corrective actions, supplier development initiatives, and cross functional alignment to ensure stable and optimized supply performance.
The role is strictly linked to Swiss suppliers and is fully limited to operational execution, including performance monitoring, escalation, and coordination of improvement actions. The role does not have authority for strategic sourcing decisions, supplier selection, contract terms, negotiations, or imposing commercial requirements on suppliers.
All governance frameworks, escalation rules, and sourcing decisions are fully defined and owned in Switzerland.
There is no strategy or final decision making authority in Romania.
Activities are limited to execution, preparation, analysis, and coordination within the defined Swiss governance framework.
Responsabilities:
Track and report supplier KPIs (OTD, lead time adherence, quality PPM, responsiveness, capacity utilization, etc.)
Maintain supplier performance dashboards and scorecards
Conduct regular performance reviews with key suppliers
Identify performance gaps and risk areas
Provide input to Swiss Strategic Sourcing based on supplier performance data
Act as 2nd escalation level for plant supply planners
Escalate to Swiss Strategic Sourcing when mitigation measures are required
Prepare materials for management escalations
Experience Required:
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field
3+ years in procurement, supply chain, or supplier management, ideally in semiconductor industry
Strong analytical skills (Excel, BI tools preferred)
Experience with KPI dashboards and performance tracking
Strong understanding of planning and advanced inventory management concepts, as well as material flow processes
Knowledge of ERP systems (D365 preferred)
Root cause analysis methodology (5 Why, Fishbone)
Lean / Continuous Improvement mindset
Strong communication skills with internal teams and suppliers
Ability to manage difficult supplier conversations
Conflict management in a complex environment
Structured problem solving approach
Data driven decision making
Independent, resilient, and proactive personality with strong assertiveness, negotiation skills, and organizational talent; demonstrates a highly structured and process oriented working style
Languages: Very good German and very good English (written and spoken)
BE GREAT TOGETHER WITH US. Innovation, Efficiency and Ambition: this is what VAT has stood for for over 50 years. With this passion, VAT has grown to become the leading international developer, manufacturer and supplier of high-performance high-end vacuum valves and vacuum sealing technology, employing over 2000 people worldwide. The headquarters are located in Haag (Switzerland), the production centers in Switzerland, Malaysia, Romania and Taiwan.
Passion. Precision. Purity: for over 50 years, this is what VAT stands for. VAT has grown to become the leading international developer, manufacturer and supplier of high-performance high-end vacuum valves and vacuum sealing technology, employing over 2000 people worldwide. The headquarters are located in Haag (Switzerland), the production centers in Switzerland, Malaysia, Romania and Taiwan.