European Procurement Manager

We're looking for a European Procurement Manager to reinforce our clients European team!

The role provides expertise in managing and delivering procurement strategies across the European business unit. The position holds accountability for the procurement function and the achievement of performance targets, including in-year and annualised savings, as agreed through strategic planning. This role requires engagement with key stakeholders, driving change, and ensuring the adoption of best procurement practices. Additionally, it supports bids and transitions by developing a competitive supply chain framework to drive profitable growth. The role also focuses on optimising value delivery and risk mitigation across the supply base while ensuring that key stakeholders recognise and benefit from these improvements.

Main Responsibilities

As European Procurement Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Designing, implementing, and enhancing procurement capability across Europe to deliver value in alignment with the agreed procurement strategy, business plans, and corporate governance.
• Developing the sourcing strategy in collaboration with European business leadership and working closely with key stakeholders to determine their product and service needs.
• Managing procurement activities for major suppliers, including pre-qualification, supplier agreements, contract preparation, and tender management.
• Establishing strong relationships with business stakeholders and strategic supply partners to enhance operations.
• Overseeing and coordinating regional procurement managers to ensure consistency in policies and processes across Europe and delivering high-quality service to stakeholders.
• Setting the framework and supporting operational procurement teams across Europe.
• Supporting bid teams by drafting compelling procurement and supply chain responses, collaborating with technical, operational, legal, and commercial teams to deliver innovative and value-adding supplier proposals.
• Identifying and regularly reviewing business-critical suppliers and owning the assessment, management, and mitigation of supply chain risks.
• Working with supply chain risk managers to ensure compliance with global and European-specific supply chain regulations, such as the German Supply Chain Act (LkSG).
• Driving the adoption of supplier management and supplier relationship management (SRM) processes to enhance supplier performance and risk management.
• Contributing to bid success by delivering maximum commercial benefit, optimal risk transfer, and innovative supply chain solutions aligned with procurement category strategies.
• Supporting the integration of procurement requirements for acquisitions into the business unit as part of the overall growth strategy.

Essential Skills & Qualifications:

• Experienced Procurement Manager with a track record of working across multiple countries, categories, and suppliers, managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience in establishing a procurement team or leading procurement transformation projects.
• Strong communicator with influencing skills to guide best procurement practices.
• Expertise in sourcing, supplier selection, and negotiation, with experience in drafting and negotiating supplier contracts.
• Proven experience in developing supply chain solutions for major commercial bids.
• Strong commercial acumen to deliver value through the supply chain.
• Ability to engage credibly with senior stakeholders and develop strong stakeholder relationships in a matrix organisation.
• Comfortable managing ambiguity and shifting priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Preferred:

• MCIPS or Degree in Procurement and Supply Chain Management from a recognised institute, or equivalent qualification.
• Experience in a services or government-facing organisation.

Additional Requirements:

• Fluent in English & German.
• Based in Brussels or Germany.
• Willingness to travel within Europe and the UK as needed to support teams and business activities.