Lead Procurement Specialist

Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk (Netherlands) – ESRIN, Frascati (Italy) – ESAC, Madrid (Spain) Overview Octagon Professionals International is seeking a Deputy Service Manager / Lead Procurement Specialist to help lead ESA’s Purchase Office Support Service. You will be the operational engine behind the service - deputising for the Service Manager, steering complex procurement, and keeping delivery consistent across ESA’s establishments. It is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys both strategy and detail. You will join Octagon, a professional-services partner that has worked alongside ESA and other international institutions for more than 35 years. Role & Responsibilities Act as deputy to the Service Manager and lead the service in their absence. Coordinate operational delivery across all ESA sites. Ensure procurement processes are applied consistently and correctly. Manage complex, high-value procurement cases from start to finish. Mentor and support procurement staff across the team. Drive service improvement and harmonisation initiatives. Essential Skills & Experience Degree in Procurement, Law, Business or Engineering. 8-10 years of procurement experience. Strong commercial and contractual knowledge. Proven leadership experience. Excellent communication and stakeholder skills; fluent English. Desirable Skills & Experience Experience within ESA or a comparable international or public procurement environment. Professional procurement qualification (e.g. CIPS). Experience with SAP or an equivalent ERP system. Experience coordinating teams across multiple locations. 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. Ready for this new challenge? Apply now. Octagon Professionals International is a full-service recruitment and HR services firm with nearly 40 years of experience in the European and international market. Our large network of professionals across multiple functional areas, and multi-national team provide flexible solutions customised to individual client needs. Privacy Notice: In order to apply for this vacancy you must submit your personal information to Octagon Professionals. Octagon Professionals will collect, use, and process your personal information as mentioned in our Privacy Policy. Our policy and processing of your personal information is compliant with the GDPR.