Paul Trautmann
Dresden
Summary
Dynamic procurement and digital transformation leader with over 15 years of experience in the chemicals, healthcare, pharmaceutical, marketplace, and renewable energy sectors. Skilled in navigating environments ranging from hypergrowth startups to established global corporations. Expertise in transforming complex source-to-pay (S2P) challenges into scalable operating models, developing clear roadmaps, and delivering measurable outcomes across speed, quality, compliance, and cost. Proven track record in both indirect and direct procurement, process governance, data ownership, and standardization/automation; recognized as a product owner for pragmatic AI and GenAI use cases from discovery to scale. Holds an MBA from WHU, PMI certification, and training in OKR and Lean Six Sigma. Fluent in English and German with proficiency in tools such as SAP Ariba (Buy/Guided Buying, S2C), SAP MM, marketplaces, and analytics/KPI dashboards.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lead Expert Digital Procurement Methods & Tech
Merck KGaA
03.2024 - Current
- Develop and implement the digital procurement roadmap for CLM and sourcing, translating strategy into actionable initiatives.
- Co-lead process improvements and SOP updates for CLM; evaluate and enhance tools and support vendor assessments.
- Serve as Product Manager/Owner for in-house GenAI use cases — from discovery to MVP to scaling — focused on value creation and adoption.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration with Legal, IT, and Finance to streamline processes and improve handovers.
- Define and track S2P KPIs and build dashboards to enable data-driven decisions.
- Act as Procurement Data Owner, improving data quality, taxonomy, and automation.
- Conduct market research, vendor due diligence, and solution scouting for category strategy, autonomous sourcing, and tail-spend optimization.
Parental Leave
Dresden
10.2023 - 02.2024
Category Manager - Indirect Procurement
Enpal B.V.
04.2023 - 09.2023
- Pioneered and managed Indirect Procurement in a hypergrowth environment (~€200m annual spend; ~300% CAGR).
- Led end-to-end sourcing projects across software, hardware, IT services, professional services, marketing, travel, leasing, infrastructure, and investments (RFI/RFQ/RFP → contract).
- Negotiated global supply contracts, improved service levels, and reduced costs; managed strategic supplier relationships.
- Harmonized and consolidated demand specifications and forecasts; developed strategic options with stakeholders.
- Defined processes, SOPs, and strategy templates; supported development of junior buyers to professionalize procurement.
- Negotiated catalog portfolios and integrated suppliers into Onventis eProcurement to increase automation and compliance.
- Developed a target operating model for license management; initiated large sourcing programs (e.g., international hardware RFP, IT partner optimization, multi-million hardware lease).
- Analyzed global spend data to identify and prioritize strategic suppliers.
Product Manager, Platform Management
Unite (Mercateo)
11.2021 - Current
- Owned the trading/commission business of the Mercateo/Unite marketplace & procurement platform.
- Defined OKRs and controlled operations with KPIs (revenue, costs, headcount, MAU).
- Evaluated customer feedback and competitive offerings to derive the most valuable features.
- Reshaped product strategy to consolidate the product portfolio and improve focus.
- Prioritized the feature backlog using RISE methodology; initiated agile product development.
- Worked with Lean/Scrum/Kanban in a truly agile environment; coordinated cross-functional delivery.
Global Category Manager IT
Röhm GmbH
10.2020 - 10.2021
- Managed global software, hardware, and IT services spend; developed strategies, led sourcing projects, and managed suppliers.
- Led a global IT procurement team (Germany, China, USA); unified ways of working and negotiation frameworks.
- Created a global office hardware purchasing concept with remote self-deployment and no in-house storage to reduce operating costs.
- Negotiated long-term agreements and closed multi-million-euro contracts with existing and new global IT providers; reported savings.
Manager Procurement Processes & Projects
Röhm GmbH
08.2019 - 09.2020
- Global Process Owner, Product Owner, and Governance Lead for all procurement processes and tools.
- Established new procurement processes, policies, and tools after the carve-out into an independent company.
- Led selection, implementation, and migration for procurement technology, including:
SAP R/3 MM, BI
SAP Ariba (Buy incl. Guided Buying, self-service quote requests; S2C)
RIsource (service procurement), Integry Next (risk & compliance)
Amazon/Mercateo marketplaces (tail spend), American Express purchasing cards - Owned and consulted on P2P, S2C, MDM, IC processes; defined requirements with IT and aligned controls/reporting.
- Drove supplier enablement, catalogs, templates, and training to accelerate adoption and reduce manual work.
Procurement Process Manager / Consultant (condense
Evonik Industries AG
10.2018 - 07.2019
- Built the operating model for Röhm's independent procurement organization as part of the carve-out project team.
- Analyzed all processes and tools used in Evonik's global procurement (~ 500 HC) and selected best practices for a new mid-size company.
- Led data migration projects for independent procurement systems.
Procurement IT Consultant
Evonik Industries AG
08.2018 - 09.2018
- Sub-project lead for implementation of aol modules of the SAP ARIBA Suite in three Procurement Units in EMEA, AMERICAS, and ASIA.
- Coordinated and trained supplier onboarding and catalog approval.
- Designed supplier enablement, master data and purchasing processes.
Interim Procurement Manager
Evonik Corporation
08.2016 - 10.2016
- Changed local raw material purchasing processes via pipeline to comply with global global standard of customized SAP process.
- Supported Procurement leadership with price, market and contract analysis and operational best practice sharing.
Global Process Coordinator MDM Raw Materials
Evonik Industries AG
08.2015 - 07.2018
- Develop and implemented a global concept for chemical raw material master data in SAP to ensure procurement data quality.
- Coordinated global cross-functional requirements on raw material management and implemented a harmonized creation processes.
Site Buyer Direct Procurement
Evonik Industries AG
09.2011 - 07.2015
- Central buyer of chemicals and tolling services for several German sites.
- Tendering of B- and C-materials with defined distribution partners.
- Identify best practices and harmonize central procurement processes.
Site Buyer Raw Materials
Evonik Degussa GmbH
02.2011 - 08.2011
- Operational procurement and management of a chemical basket.
- Global sourcing of new suppliers for R&D trails and test productions
Pharma Work Scheduler
Evonik Röhm GmbH
07.2009 - 01.2011
- Managed Pharma (GMP) Production in SAP including work scheduling, production planning and controlling, and inventory management.
Business Management Assistant
Röhm GmbH & Co. KG
09.2006 - 06.2009
- Vocational training in multiple departments and locations.
Education
Executive Education - Competitive Strategy
INSEAD
Fontainebleau, France04.2017
MBA - General Management
WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management
Düsseldorf, Germany11.2016
Bachelor of Science - International Business Administration
Hochschule Darmstadt
Darmstadt, Germany08.2013
Vocational Training - Industrial Management (Industriekaufmann)
Industrie- Und Handelskammer Darmstadt
Darmstadt, Germany06.2009
Skills
- Procurement Excellence
- Process Governance & Transformation
- Category Management & Operations
- Project Management
- Procurement Technology
- Digital Product Management
Certification
- 2021: Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM); Project Management Institute (PMI)
- 2015: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (trained); MoreSteam.com LLC
- 2012: Certification in SAP BI; University Duisburg-Essen
- 2010: Certification in Integrated Business Processes with SAP; University Duisburg-Essen
Additional Information
- Born on 12. March 1986 in Groß-Gerau, Germany
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paultrautmann/
Languages
German
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
French
Elementary (A2)
Hindi
Beginner (A1)
Timeline
Lead Expert Digital Procurement Methods & Tech
Merck KGaA
03.2024 - Current
Parental Leave
Dresden
10.2023 - 02.2024
Category Manager - Indirect Procurement
Enpal B.V.
04.2023 - 09.2023
Product Manager, Platform Management
Unite (Mercateo)
11.2021 - Current
Global Category Manager IT
Röhm GmbH
10.2020 - 10.2021
Manager Procurement Processes & Projects
Röhm GmbH
08.2019 - 09.2020
Procurement Process Manager / Consultant (condense
Evonik Industries AG
10.2018 - 07.2019
Procurement IT Consultant
Evonik Industries AG
08.2018 - 09.2018
Interim Procurement Manager
Evonik Corporation
08.2016 - 10.2016
Global Process Coordinator MDM Raw Materials
Evonik Industries AG
08.2015 - 07.2018
Site Buyer Direct Procurement
Evonik Industries AG
09.2011 - 07.2015
Site Buyer Raw Materials
Evonik Degussa GmbH
02.2011 - 08.2011
Pharma Work Scheduler
Evonik Röhm GmbH
07.2009 - 01.2011
Business Management Assistant
Röhm GmbH & Co. KG
09.2006 - 06.2009
Executive Education - Competitive Strategy
INSEAD
MBA - General Management
WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management
Bachelor of Science - International Business Administration
Hochschule Darmstadt
Vocational Training - Industrial Management (Industriekaufmann)
Industrie- Und Handelskammer Darmstadt
Social Commitment
Coach & Juror; business@school initiative of The Boston Consulting Group
Hessen, Germany - July 2015 - July 2019
· Coached students in analyzing businesses and creating a business plan.
Board Member; WHU Entrepreneurship Roundtable
Düsseldorf, Germany - September 2015 - November 2016
· Initiative to connect MBA students, entrepreneurs and PE investors.