Senior Procurement Specialist

Qabird; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Visa and relocation support

Hybrid working

Job summary

European Space Agency (ESA) seeks a Senior Procurement Specialist to independently manage the Purchase Order lifecycle across ESA sites in Noordwijk, Frascati and Madrid. You will lead procurement planning, run RFQs, conduct supplier negotiations and provide commercial advice to ESA customers.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years in procurement, strong contract management skills and fluent English. SAP experience and CIPS qualification are desirable.

Qualifications

• Degree in Procurement, Business or Engineering.
• Minimum 7 years of procurement experience.
• Strong commercial awareness and contract management experience.
• Excellent communication skills; fluent English.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage the complete Purchase Order lifecycle.
• Lead procurement planning and prepare Requests for Quotation (RFQs).
• Conduct supplier negotiations and commercial evaluations.
• Prepare contracts and provide commercial advice to ESA customers.
• Mentor junior colleagues and support their development.
• Contribute to process harmonisation across sites.

Skills

Procurement

Contract management

Negotiation

English fluent

Education

Bachelor's degree in Procurement

Tools

SAP

Job description

Senior Procurement Specialist opportunity – European Space Agency

Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk (Netherlands) – ESRIN, Frascati (Italy) – ESAC, Madrid (Spain) | Positions: 2

Overview

Octagon Professionals International is recruiting two Senior Procurement Specialists for ESA’s Purchase Office Support Service. You will independently manage medium and high complexity procurement, from planning through to award, while supporting colleagues and keeping delivery consistent across ESA’s establishments. It is an ideal role for an experienced procurement professional who wants autonomy, variety and an international setting. Octagon has supported ESA and other institutions for more than 35 years.

Role & Responsibilities

• Independently manage the complete Purchase Order lifecycle.
• Lead procurement planning and prepare Requests for Quotation (RFQs).
• Conduct supplier negotiations and commercial evaluations.
• Prepare contracts and provide commercial advice to ESA customers.
• Mentor junior colleagues and support their development.
• Contribute to process harmonisation across sites.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Degree in Procurement, Business or Engineering.
• Minimum 7 years of procurement experience.
• Strong commercial awareness and contract management experience.
• Excellent communication skills; fluent English.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience with SAP or an equivalent ERP procurement system.
• Experience within ESA or a comparable international organisation.
• Professional procurement qualification (e.g. CIPS).
• Experience mentoring or coordinating junior staff.

Package

• Competitive salary: commensurate with skills and experience.
• Fixed-term contract aligned to the ESA Purchase Office Support Service, with strong potential for extension.
• Hybrid working at ESTEC (Noordwijk, Netherlands), ESRIN (Frascati, Italy) or ESAC (Madrid, Spain)
• Comprehensive benefits, plus visa and relocation support where applicable - Octagon is a recognised IND sponsor.
• An international, multicultural working environment and real scope for professional development.