Key Skills

Job Description

An exciting opportunity has become available for an experienced Purchase Officer to join the Akkodis Purchase team, working onsite at the European Space Agency in the Netherlands. Akkodis has proudly supported the Aerospace & Defence industry in the Netherlands for decades. Our partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) has been one of the many success stories allowing our people to expand their career horizons. Akkodis experts are contributing to some of the most important technical advances in Aerospace and Defence which impact the way we live our lives today, through specialised engineering expertise and other required skillsets. This could be your future. Become part of our successful team! Key Responsibilities: Managed procurement operations and negotiated agreement with vendor in compliance with procurement regulations. Drafted and reviewed Purchase Orders focusing on risk mitigation and compliance Advised internal stakeholders on contractual obligations and regulatory requirements Purchase goods, materials, components or services of assigned Purchase requests. Work closely with others in the procurement function and review opportunities for continuous improvement. Communicate with requestors and suppliers in case of commercial issues or escalations. Involve team colleagues as needed. Support others in the team when needed After an onboarding and internal “on the job” training and coaching you will become: Proficient in new supplier registration, taking the first negotiations on terms and conditions and finalizing the Purchase order in line with the administrative tools and processes of the Purchase office One of the main buyers in the team for the procurement of standardized services and COTS items A team player that takes responsibility to organize their own workload and knows when to involve colleagues to solve problems. Skills and Attributes: Able to build and maintain effective and productive relationships with staff, stakeholders and suppliers Good communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills Analytical, numerically astute with strong demonstrated problem solving abilities Able to manage time effectively, prioritise tasks and achieve set targets Able to work well under pressure and handle emergency and stressful situations Keen attention to detail and accuracy Assertive, resilient and welcomes change Engages interest and participation of others and has a collaborative approach to working together Proactively contributes to the team Actively committed to teams development Is self-aware and optimistic Shows moral courage, openness and honesty in all dealings To successfully perform the above mentioned tasks, the following background / experience is required: Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Law or a related discipline. Several years of experience in Procurement. Proven experience working within a purchasing team, ideally in an international environment. Strong understanding of GDPR and broader compliance frameworks. Procurement certifications such as CIPS, NEVI‑1, Inkooppraktijk‑A (INKOOPACADEMIE), or equivalent qualifications are an advantage. Solid commercial awareness and business understanding. High level of computer literacy, including advanced Excel skills. Familiarity with SAP (ESA‑P) is a plus. Fluent in English; knowledge of German, Italian, or Dutch is beneficial. About ESA-ESTEC The European Space Agency (ESA) has sites in several European countries. The European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), has grown into ESA’s largest establishment and the technical and organizational hub of Europe’s space sector. Missions designed and tested at ESTEC are circling Earth, have landed on planetary bodies and have probed far into the Solar System. The infrastructure and equipment assembled here, together with the expert knowhow of its 2800 personnel, make ESTEC a unique resource for Europe. The work done here by teams skilled in every aspect of engineering for space has enabled the creation of novel communication, navigation and information services, creating new jobs and growth while improving the lives of European and world citizens. Please send your CV to [email protected] as soon as possible

Core Responsibilities

Manage procurement operations, negotiate with vendors, and draft and review purchase orders in accordance with procurement regulations and compliance requirements. Advise stakeholders on contractual matters, purchase assigned goods and services, resolve commercial issues with requestors and suppliers, and support continuous improvement and team operations.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree, preferably in Law or a related discipline, and several years of procurement experience are required, ideally including work in an international purchasing team. Candidates should have strong compliance knowledge, commercial awareness, advanced Excel skills, and fluent English; procurement certifications and familiarity with SAP (ESA-P) are advantageous.