Sustainability Support Procurement Specialist

The primary mission of this role is to bridge the gap between operational procurement and sustainability goals. You will be responsible for the high-quality collection of supplier data, focusing specifically on material composition, energy management systems, and CO2 consumption metrics. By analyzing this data, you provide the foundation for LIXIL’s decarbonization strategies and Scope 3 emissions tracking. Beyond data entry, you will manage supplier master data within enterprise systems like SAP and Ariba. This ensures that the company's purchasing decisions are based on accurate environmental performance indicators. You will also facilitate communication between buyers and suppliers to clarify technical sustainability requirements. You will also play an active part in engagement activities, such as organizing supplier roadshows and internal workshops. These events are designed to cascade sustainability expectations down the supply chain and integrate green criteria into standard procurement processes like RFQs and offer analysis.

A candidate in this position will gain deep expertise in Green Procurement and Supply Chain Sustainability. You will learn to use industry-standard tools for risk management and environmental auditing, specifically IntegrityNext and SAP Ariba, which are highly valued in the modern job market. Exposure to the technicalities of Scope 3 emissions and Life Cycle Assessment data will be a significant learning curve. You will understand how a global manufacturing leader like LIXIL calculates the environmental footprint of its components and how these metrics influence global business decisions. Additionally, through the Grohe Master Academy and the international nature of the team, you will develop cross-cultural communication skills. You will learn how to manage complex stakeholder relationships across different European regions, enhancing your ability to drive change in a corporate environment.

The ideal candidate is an analytical early-career professional or a recent graduate with a background in Business Administration or Industrial Engineering. You should possess a genuine curiosity about how global supply chains can transition to more sustainable models and a willingness to work with large datasets. Technical proficiency is key, particularly an advanced command of MS Excel or Google Sheets, as much of the work involves structuring and reporting on supplier metrics. While previous experience in procurement is a benefit, strong communication skills in English are non-negotiable for navigating a multi-national team structure. Candidates who demonstrate strategic thinking and an ability to work independently will stand out. Knowledge of German is considered a valuable asset because of GROHE’s heritage and close collaboration with Central European teams, though it is not a prerequisite for the role.

To stand out, your application should demonstrate a clear interest in Sustainable Supply Chain management. Instead of just listing your degree, highlight any academic projects or internships where you performed data analysis or dealt with supplier environmental certifications like ISO 14001 or EcoVadis scores. Given the hybrid and international nature of the role, show evidence of your proactive communication style. Reflect on moments where you had to coordinate between different groups or explain technical data to a non-technical audience. Mentioning familiarity with platforms like IntegrityNext or Ariba specifically will signal that you are ready to hit the ground running. Research LIXIL’s CO2 reduction goals and GROHE’s history of innovation. In your cover letter, explain how your analytical skills can help them achieve their specific Scope 3 targets. Showing an understanding of the manufacturing industry's challenges regarding raw material transparency will indicate a high level of preparedness.

The role focuses heavily on Supply Chain decarbonization and environmental compliance. You will likely spend a significant amount of time assessing the product environmental footprint of components manufactured for GROHE, looking at material weights and compositions to evaluate recycle-ability and carbon intensity. Another major focus is supplier due diligence. By using platforms like IntegrityNext, you will ensure that LIXIL’s suppliers adhere to internal ethics and sustainability standards, covering aspects like labor rights, energy management, and hazardous substance control. This role is a vital link in the Circular Economy transition of the company. You will also support the social aspect of ESG through stakeholder engagement. By helping to run supplier days and roadshows, you are part of the team that educates the supply base on new regulations and corporate sustainability expectations, fostering a culture of shared responsibility.

One of the primary challenges will be the complexity of data collection. Suppliers vary significantly in their sustainability maturity, and you may encounter difficulties in obtaining timely or accurate reporting from smaller vendors or those in different regulatory jurisdictions. Managing data integrity across multiple systems like SAP and Ariba requires high attention to detail and can be repetitive. Ensuring that the information remains consistent while the procurement team makes rapid changes to orders and price lists requires high organizational skill and resilience under pressure. Balancing sustainability goals with cost efficiency is an inherent challenge in any procurement role. You might find yourself in situations where technical clarifications between sustainability requirements and operational procurement needs create friction, requiring you to use your communication skills to find common ground.

A typical morning might begin with reviewing supplier submissions in IntegrityNext, checking if new material safety data sheets or carbon reports meet company standards. You could then attend a hybrid meeting with the procurement buyers to discuss pending RFQs and integrated sustainability criteria for an upcoming component tender. In the afternoon, you might shift to data analysis, using Excel to aggregate CO2 consumption data from various suppliers for a monthly report to the regional procurement manager. This involves ensuring that every line of master data in SAP is correctly updated to reflect the latest environmental metrics. Your day could conclude with coordination tasks, such as emailing German-speaking stakeholders about a workshop agenda or answering questions from a supplier regarding LIXIL’s sustainability disclosure requirements. It is a mix of focused data work and collaborative communication.

Within a global entity like LIXIL, this junior-level position serves as a stepping stone to more senior roles in Sustainable Procurement or Corporate ESG. As you master the data systems and supplier relationship management, you could progress into a Category Manager or Global Sustainability Lead role. The exposure to international procurement operations across Europe provides a broad platform for lateral moves into strategic sourcing, supply chain risk management, or environmental compliance. LIXIL’s commitment to internal development means successful specialists are often prioritized for leadership training. Furthermore, becoming an expert in Scope 3 reporting and sustainability software tools positions you at the forefront of a high-demand niche. The skills acquired here are transferable to any global manufacturing firm looking to institutionalize sustainable purchasing practices.

You will be embedded within a procurement team of 16, working most closely with a direct group of 5 to 9 colleagues. These include buyers who manage the commercial relationships and technical experts who define product specifications. External stakeholders are primarily suppliers. You will be their main point of contact for sustainability data inquiries, guiding them through the reporting process and explaining why certain metrics are required for LIXIL’s compliance. This interaction is key to building supply chain transparency. Internally, you will also collaborate with cross-functional teams across Europe, which may include the central Sustainability department and Quality Management teams. These interactions ensure that the procurement data you manage aligns with the company’s broader reporting on global environmental and social goals.