Global Purchasing Associate / Specialist

KCR Placement; Barcelona; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave entitlements

Health insurance offerings

Retirement planning offerings

Global Employee Assistance Programme

Life assurance

Country-specific benefits

Job summary

ICON is establishing a new Valencia site and seeks a Global Purchasing Associate / Specialist to coordinate clinical trial kits and supplies worldwide. You will collaborate with internal teams, vendors, couriers, and project teams to ensure on-time, compliant delivery to investigator sites globally.

You will monitor shipments, support protocol-specific logistics, manage supplier relationships, and contribute to process improvements while ensuring SOP and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, logistics, clinical supplies or pharmaceutical operations.
• Fluent English; additional European languages beneficial.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams and external vendors.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate global shipment of clinical trial kits and supplies to investigator sites.
• Monitor inbound and outbound shipments and resolve delays.
• Support setup and implementation of protocol-specific logistics plans.
• Liaise with project teams, investigators, couriers and vendors for supply continuity.
• Prepare shipping documentation and import/export paperwork per country requirements.
• Manage courier relationships and identify cost-effective shipping solutions.
• Maintain oversight of kit production vendors and monitor performance metrics.
• Support quality investigations, audits, and corrective actions.

Skills

Purchasing

Procurement

Supply chain

Logistics

Clinical supplies

Pharmaceutical operations

Cross-functional collaboration

Import/export regulations

Communication skills

MS Office

English

Education

Degree educated

Job description

Global Purchasing Associate / Specialist, onsite Valencia

ICON is a global healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation united by a mission to bring new medicines and treatments to patients faster.

As a values-driven organisation, integrity, collaboration, agility, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work and interact with each other, customers, patients and suppliers.

Global Purchasing Associate / Specialist

Location: Onsite at new Valencia site

5 days a week onsite

Join ICON and help build something new!

This is an exciting opportunity to join ICON as we establish a new kit production and supply location in Valencia, Spain.

As a Global Purchasing Associate / Specialist, you will play a key role in supporting the successful launch and ongoing operation of this new facility, ensuring clinical trial supplies reach investigator sites across the globe accurately, compliantly, and on time.

If you thrive in a fast-paced, international environment and enjoy solving complex logistics challenges while supporting life-changing clinical research, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role

As a Global Purchasing Associate / Specialist, you will be responsible for coordinating the global distribution of clinical trial kits and supplies, ensuring seamless delivery to sites worldwide. Working closely with internal stakeholders, vendors, couriers, and project teams, you will oversee logistics operations, monitor shipments, manage supply issues, and support continual process improvements.

What You'll Be Doing

• Coordinate the global shipment of clinical trial kits and supplies to investigator sites.
• Monitor inbound and outbound shipments, proactively resolving delays and transportation issues.
• Support the setup and implementation of protocol-specific logistics plans.
• Liaise with project teams, investigators, couriers, vendors, and other stakeholders to ensure supply continuity.
• Prepare shipping documentation, commercial invoices, and import/export paperwork in line with country-specific requirements.
• Manage courier relationships and identify cost-effective shipping solutions.
• Maintain oversight of kit production vendors and monitor performance metrics.
• Support quality investigations, audits, and corrective action activities.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs, industry regulations, and international shipping requirements.
• Participate in risk assessments and provide subject matter expertise on global logistics and supply chain activities.

What We're Looking For

• Experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, logistics, clinical supplies, pharmaceutical operations, or a related field.
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and external vendors.
• Knowledge of import/export regulations and international logistics would be advantageous.
• Strong communication skills and a customer-focused approach.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and supply chain management systems.
• Fluency in English; additional European languages are beneficial.
• Degree educated

Why ICON?

At ICON, our success is driven by our commitment to People, Clients and Performance. You'll join a collaborative global team where your contributions directly support the delivery of clinical research that advances healthcare worldwide.

This role offers the opportunity to be part of the launch and growth of our new Barcelona operation, helping shape processes, drive operational excellence, and make a meaningful impact on a global scale.

What ICON can offer you:

Our success depends on the quality of our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to build a diverse culture that rewards high performance and nurtures talent.

In addition to your competitive salary, ICON offers a range of additional benefits. Our benefits are designed to be competitive within each country and are focused on well‑being and work life balance opportunities for you and your family.

Our benefits examples include:

• Various annual leave entitlements
• A range of health insurance offerings to suit you and your family’s needs.
• Competitive retirement planning offerings to maximize savings and plan with confidence for the years ahead.
• Global Employee Assistance Programme, LifeWorks, offering 24-hour access to a global network of over 80,000 independent specialized professionals who are there to support you and your family’s well‑being.
• Life assurance
• Flexible country-specific optional benefits, including childcare vouchers, bike purchase schemes, discounted gym memberships, subsidized travel passes, health assessments, among others.

Visit our careers site to read more about the benefits ICON offers.

At ICON, inclusion & belonging are fundamental to our culture and values. We’re dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all candidates. ICON is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please let us know or submit a request here

Interested in the role, but unsure if you meet all of the requirements? We would encourage you to apply regardless – there’s every chance you’re exactly what we’re looking for here at ICON whether it is for this or other roles.