Jobbeschreibung
KWS is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies. Over 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries generated net sales of around €1.8 billion in the fiscal year 2022/2023. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for 165 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugar beet, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield for farmers and plants' resistance to diseases, pests, and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested more than €300 million last fiscal year in research and development.Are you passionate about making people´s work life easier by using automation and new technologies with a can-do attitude that loves to challenge the status quo and possesses the necessary analytical skills to recognize potentials as well as the structure to implement them?
KWS Berlin GmbH is seeking a Functional Automation Lead – Procurement (m/f/d) on a full-time and permanent basis who will be responsible for driving automation efforts combining deep functional knowledge of processes with advanced automation capabilities in our Berlin's office. This role requires a strategic thinker who can identify opportunities for process optimization, implement automation solutions, and collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional teams.
Make an impact:
- Develop and execute a comprehensive automation strategy aligned with the department's goals and overall business objectives
- Continuously assess emerging automation technologies and trends to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement in procurement processes
- Lead the implementation of automation solutions, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems and compliance to our IT and automation governance
- Identify opportunities for process improvement and efficiency gains through automation
- Collaborate with process owners and stakeholders from upstream and downstream processes, to foster E2E automation solutions across the Procure-to-Pay value chain as well as to identify and prioritize processes for automation
- Work closely with central functions like Global IT and our Automation and Data Analytics Team as well as functional colleagues (e.g. Key User, Associates), other relevant teams and external partners to ensure successful implementation and integration of automation solutions
- Provide training and support to department staff on automation tools and methodologies and foster learning and knowledge sharing within the department
- Implement monitoring mechanisms to track the performance of automated processes
- Generate regular reports on the impact of automation, including efficiency gains and cost savings
Bring your strength:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance or IT, Business Administration, IT, Statistics, Data Science, or a related field
- Additional education (Trainings, Courses, certificates etc.) related to automation is a plus
- Strong understanding of Procurement processes and workflows
- Proven experience in driving automation initiatives in Procurement, preferably in a Shared Service Center
- Demonstrated experience in change management and organizational transformation, particularly within the context of automation initiatives
- Familiarity with agile methodologies and principles, with the ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and requirements
- Experience working in a multinational or global organization, with an understanding of cultural differences and sensitivities in driving automation adoption
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to analyze complex data sets and identify patterns, trends, and opportunities for optimization and automation
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with stakeholders at all levels of the organization and within the team
- Experience in developing business cases and ROI analyses to justify investments in automation technology and initiatives
- Strong project management skills and stakeholder management capabilities with a focus on problem-solving
- Proficiency in ERP systems like SAP ECC and ideally S/4 Hana, automation tools and systems (e.g. MS Power Platform) as well as advanced skills in data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI)
- Fluent English language skills, any other European language is a plus
We offer:
- Interesting and varied job in a diverse international environment with the opportunity to contribute innovative ideas
- As a family business, we are guided by the values of closeness, reliability, vision and independence; this culture is lived in practice and ensures an open and friendly working atmosphere from day one
- Excellent work equipment and free car and bicycle parking spaces in our modern office in the heart of Berlin-Schöneberg
- We create the appropriate framework conditions for you: capital-forming benefits, Christmas and holiday pay, childcare allowance, 30d holidays, flexible working hours, holiday and Christmas bonuses, company pension scheme, JobRad and/or Jobticket
- True to our motto "Make yourself grow", we support the professional and personal development of our employees