Strategic Purchaser (m/w/d)

Join NexWafe as a Strategic Purchaser in Freiburg, Germany. Collaborate with engineering to manage procurement activities and support renewable energy projects. Enjoy flexible working hours, an attractive salary, and health benefits. Become a Strategic Purchaser at NexWafe in Freiburg, Germany, and play a key role in managing procurement for innovative silicon wafer production. Collaborate with engineering to meet program objectives and cost targets while driving procurement in development projects. Enjoy a diverse team, flexible working hours, an attractive salary, and health benefits to support your well-being.

NexWafe Freiburg, Germany Hybrid Contract Position UTC+01:00

NexWafe

Company Overview

Name

NexWafe GmbH

Headquarters

Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Founded

2015

Size

The number of employees is not publicly specified, and as a private company, no revenue data for 2023 or later is disclosed. The company has raised approximately 95 million euros in funding, including a financing round of 30 million euros in May 2023 (source: eu-startups.com).

What They Do

NexWafe is an innovative company specializing in the production of advanced solar wafers. The company's core technology focuses exclusively on photovoltaics, manufacturing ultra-thin, high-efficiency monocrystalline n-type silicon wafers through a proprietary EpiWafer or EpiNex process. This process allows for the deposition of a crystalline silicon layer on a reusable substrate, eliminating the need for traditional methods of Czochralski crystal growth and wire sawing (source: netzerocompare.com). This technology reduces energy consumption by 40-70% and CO2 emissions by 40-70%, while cutting material waste from over 50% to under 10% (source: businesswire.com). NexWafe's products are designed for use in terrestrial solar projects, residential installations, and emerging applications such as tandem cells (source: nexwafe.com).

Projects & Track Record

NexWafe has an impressive track record in pilot projects, including a 5 MW pilot line in Freiburg that was launched in 2021, as well as the introduction of a commercial line in 2020. A notable project was a European solar project on 200 acres that achieved a 20% higher energy yield compared to conventional wafers (source: eu-startups.com). The company is currently planning to build its first commercial green wafer factory in Bitterfeld, Germany, supported by a financing round of 30 million euros (source: eu-startups.com).

Recent Developments

In the past two years, NexWafe has made significant progress, including the announcement of efficiency parity of 24.4% for HJT cells and 28.9% for tandem cells (source: businesswire.com). In May 2023, the company secured 30 million euros for the construction of its factory in Bitterfeld, while simultaneously completing a financing round of 39 million euros for a gigafactory in India (source: eu-startups.com). The company has also established a collaboration with Aramco Ventures for production in Saudi Arabia.

Working There

NexWafe offers a variety of roles in a growing team focused on expanding prototype production. The company culture emphasizes innovation, customer-oriented solutions, and the commercialization of research technologies (source: careers.nexwafe.com). The headquarters is located in Freiburg, with potential locations in Bitterfeld, the USA, India, or Saudi Arabia, while specific benefits or perks are not documented in the available sources.

Contact

Website · Careers · LinkedIn

Last updated on 2025-12-27 | Report an issue

At NexWafe, we are developing a pioneering process to produce silicon wafers with fewer process steps, resulting in significant savings in production costs, energy consumption and CO??? emissions.

To support our ongoing projects and initiatives, we are looking for a skilled Strategic Purchaser (m/f/d) with solid technical background to join our team in Freiburg im Breisgau.

As a Strategic Purchaser, your key responsibilities will include liaising with the engineering department to ensure that programme objectives and cost targets are achieved, in line with other company-wide strategic goals. This position may also be offered as a limited-term contract (12-18 months).

Join our global team, help shape the future of renewable energy, and explore exciting career opportunities at NexWafe!

Your Mission

Ensure relevant procurement activities are managed end-to-end-from understanding downstream needs to supporting related aftermarket activities.
Drive early and late-stage procurement involvement in strategically important development projects, as well as in sourcing materials and components.
Lead procurement project management activities.
Act as a key interface between the engineering department, purchasing, and suppliers.
Identify, assess, select, and develop suppliers in collaboration with technical, project, and quality teams.
Process orders for technically complex requirements, ensuring control over cost, timeline, and quality.
Critically review procurement processes, identify gaps, and initiate improvement measures.
Develop, align, and present sourcing strategies in coordination with the line manager and internal stakeholders for the assigned scope of work.

Your profile

Commercial or technical degree, ideally complemented by an MBA or a comparable qualification.
Minimum of 5 years' experience as a Strategic Purchaser -preferably in semiconductors, silicon wafers, photovoltaics, electronics, high-tech products, or industrial coating systems.
Proven expertise in managing purchasing projects, including milestone tracking, process implementation, and category management.
Ability to read and understand technical drawings and complex specifications.
Experience negotiating with capital equipment vendors, as well as suppliers of raw materials and chemicals.
Strong relationship-building skills with suppliers, enabling creative negotiation approaches and improved delivery timelines.
Team-oriented mindset with resilience, a structured approach, and a solution-focused attitude.
Proactive and self-driven personality.
Excellent communication skills in both English and German.

Why us?

A diverse team: Short decision-making processes, flat hierarchies and collaboration with experts from different areas await you.
A diverse and exciting job: A company that contributes to the commercialisation of environmentally friendly solar energy with a low carbon footprint.
Stability with a certain degree of flexibility: A permanent position with flexible working hours.
Attractive remuneration programme: An attractive salary, a company pension scheme and profit-sharing for employees.
Healthy balance: Take your physical and mental health to the next level with an annual health budget and a HanseFit membership!
Expand your language skills: Optimise your career prospects with the English and German courses offered.