Procurement Lead

About This Role

Imagine this. You are leading procurement at one of Destinus' key European sites, turning global strategy into reliable, efficient local execution. As Procurement Lead, you will take ownership of operational procurement activities in the Netherlands, supporting our manufacturing and engineering teams while ensuring materials and services are available when and where they are needed.

You will lead a small team of Buyers, manage the local supplier base, and act as the key link between global procurement and local operations. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can develop people, solve supply challenges, negotiate effectively, and keep procurement moving in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations

What You´ll Do

· Lead, mentor, and develop the local purchasing team, driving accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

· Own day-to-day procurement operations for the Netherlands site and ensure an effective end-to-end Procure-to-Pay process aligned with global policies.

· Manage relationships and performance across the local supplier base, with a strong focus on delivery, quality, cost, and responsiveness.

· Act as the main escalation point for local supply issues, working closely with suppliers and internal teams to resolve problems quickly.

· Lead tactical sourcing activities and supplier negotiations for local spend, securing the right balance of cost, quality, delivery, and risk.

· Partner closely with Site, Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, and R&D teams to understand requirements and translate them into effective procurement actions within the global procurement policies.

· Identify opportunities to improve procurement processes, supplier performance, and operational efficiency.

Requirements

· 5-8+ years of experience in procurement, purchasing, or supply chain within a manufacturing environment.

· Experience leading, coaching, or mentoring Buyers or other procurement professionals.

· Strong understanding of end-to-end procurement and Procure-to-Pay processes.

· Solid supplier management, negotiation, sourcing, and problem-solving capabilities.

· Experience working within a multi-site or international organization.

· Strong ERP skills, ideally with experience using Microsoft Dynamics.

· Professional fluency in English.

· Experience within aerospace, defense, automotive, or another complex engineering environment is a strong advantage.

Who You Are

You are a hands-on procurement leader who knows when to step back and guide the team and when to jump directly into a supplier issue or negotiation. You bring structure to fast-moving environments, take ownership when problems appear, and stay focused on solutions. You are comfortable balancing global strategy with local operational realities and enjoy working closely with engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams to keep things moving.

Benefits

Why Join Us?

✨ The Thrill of the Future – Work on cutting-edge projects that redefine aerospace.
✨ Global Innovation Hub – Collaborate with top engineers from all over the world.
✨ Fast-Paced & High-Growth – Experience the rush of working in a rapidly expanding company.
✨ Real Impact – Your work won’t be theoretical—it will shape the future of flight.

Destinus is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity in our companies and our teams and do not discriminate based on age, race, religion, color, country of origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability status.

🚀 Destinus – Challenge the limits of time, space, and human potential.

Security screening is an integral component of the selection process, ensuring that candidates meet the organization's security standards and safeguarding against potential risks. 

Providing a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) is a standard part of the application process at Destinus.