Bartłomiej Knapik
Project Manager
Summary
Results-driven Project and Purchasing Manager with 12+ years of experience in the automotive industry. Proven expertise in leading cross-functional projects for global OEMs, including BMW, managing purchasing portfolios exceeding €250M, and driving product industrialisation. Skilled in project management, stakeholder engagement, strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and delivering cost-effective solutions in international environments.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Manager
Valeo Lighting Systems
Chrzanów
01.2026 - Current
- Managed project scope, schedule, deliverables, risks, and stakeholder communication throughout product development lifecycle to ensure successful SOP.
- Lead the development of an automotive rear lighting project for BMW, coordinating an international cross-functional team of 8 members across Engineering, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, Logistics, and Finance.
- Act as the primary interface between internal teams and the customer, ensuring alignment with project milestones and technical requirements.
- Coordinated engineering changes, supplier readiness, and launch activities, supporting APQP and PPAP processes to facilitate smooth project transitions.
- Collaborated with suppliers across China, India, Turkey, and Europe to secure timely execution and uphold quality compliance.
- Utilize SAP S/4HANA and Jira to monitor project execution, resource planning, issue tracking, and reporting.
Purchasing Manager
Valeo Electric and Electronic Systems Sp. z o.o.
Czechowice-Dziedzice
03.2023 - 12.2025
- Managed purchasing activities for portfolio exceeding €250M ABPA, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
- Define purchasing strategy, KPIs, budgets and Capex planning.
- Led cross-functional teams on cost reduction and supplier development projects, enhancing overall procurement efficiency.
- Conducted global supplier negotiations and contract management, facilitating productivity workshops like VAVE and Linear Price Performance.
- Support Quality, Logistics, Finance and Legal departments in supplier escalations.
- Report project status and business performance to executive management.
P0 Purchasing Manager / Leader
Valeo Electric and Electronic Systems Sp. z o.o.
Czechowice-Dziedzice
07.2021 - 03.2023
- Directed procurement processes for serial production purchasing team, streamlining operations and optimising supplier relationships.
- Supervised negotiations with suppliers, strengthening sourcing strategy and fostering long-term partnerships.
- Coordinated productivity projects for various commodities, improving project execution and alignment across departments.
- Organised collaborative efforts for cost reduction initiatives across teams.
Productivity Buyer
Valeo Electric and Electronic Systems Sp. z o.o.
Czechowice-Dziedzice
06.2015 - 07.2021
- Delivered significant cost savings through supplier negotiations and sourcing activities.
- Managed RFQs, conducted supplier benchmarking, and facilitated VAVE workshops to optimise procurement processes.
- Led supplier transfers and industrialisation activities to integrate new suppliers into production seamlessly.
- Coordinated tooling management and implemented engineering changes to ensure alignment with project specifications.
Purchasing Trainee
Valeo Electric and Electronic Systems Sp. z o.o.
Czechowice-Dziedzice
03.2014 - 06.2015
- Managed sourcing processes to enhance supplier engagement and streamline procurement activities.
- Supported advanced product quality planning and production part approval processes, ensuring compliance with quality standards.
- Assisted Project Buyer in industrialisation of eSupercharger project, contributing to timely delivery of project milestones.
- Cooperated with Engineering and Quality team.
- Followed project milestones.
Education
Postgraduate Study - Purchasing Manager
Wyższa Szkoła Bankowości
Katowice01-2016
Engineer - Transport management and logistic
Śląska Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania
Katowice01-2013
Skills
- Project management
- Product launch
- Stakeholder engagement
- Risk assessment
- Budget oversight
- Cross-functional leadership
- Cost optimization
- Strategic sourcing
- Supplier development
- Negotiation skills
- APQP expertise
- PPAP knowledge
- Engineering change management
- IATF 16949 compliance
- SAP proficiency
- Microsoft Office suite
- AI tools utilization
- QRQC methodology
- Global negotiation strategies
- Contract management expertise
- VAVE principles
- Strategic sourcing
- Supplier development
- Lean Process Improvement
- MS Office / Google Workspace
- English (Professional)
Hobbies and interests
- HOCKEY
- FAMILY TIME
- HOME GARDENING
- FANTASY BOOKS
Legal consent
I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data by the employer for the purpose of the current recruitment process for the position applied for, as well as for the purposes of future recruitments.
Timeline
Project Manager
Valeo Lighting Systems
01.2026 - Current
Purchasing Manager
Valeo Electric and Electronic Systems Sp. z o.o.
03.2023 - 12.2025
P0 Purchasing Manager / Leader
Valeo Electric and Electronic Systems Sp. z o.o.
07.2021 - 03.2023
Productivity Buyer
Valeo Electric and Electronic Systems Sp. z o.o.
06.2015 - 07.2021
Purchasing Trainee
Valeo Electric and Electronic Systems Sp. z o.o.
03.2014 - 06.2015
Postgraduate Study - Purchasing Manager
Wyższa Szkoła Bankowości
Engineer - Transport management and logistic
Śląska Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania