A public sector organisation providing digital services to education and research is strengthening its procurement function to ensure public contracts are executed reliably and compliantly. This Senior Buyer role focuses on public procurement and stakeholder communication, working across contracts for supplies and services and ensuring supplier performance meets operational needs.
The mission
You will join the central procurement team responsible for organising and executing public contracts under Belgian public procurement law. The role covers the full procurement lifecycle for supplies and services, from translating user requirements into specifications to contract award, implementation and renewal. Your work affects internal service teams and end-users who rely on those contracts for continuity of digital services.
Day to day you will manage a portfolio of active contracts and supplier relationships, monitor performance against KPIs, and lead negotiations and renewals. You will analyse purchase requests for risks and opportunities, propose mitigation measures, draft or improve special specifications, and maintain documentation and contingency plans to ensure business continuity.
Your responsibilities
- Manage end-to-end procurement processes so contracts are compliant, delivered on time, and aligned with operational needs.
- Negotiate with suppliers to secure favourable terms and ensure contractual commitments are implemented with integrity and transparency.
- Monitor supplier performance using KPIs and convert performance data into concrete improvement plans.
- Translate functional requirements into clear tender specifications and evaluation criteria in collaboration with internal clients.
- Lead risk analysis for purchase requests and create contingency plans to protect service continuity.
- Share procurement expertise with colleagues, propose updates to procurement procedures, and monitor changes in applicable legislation.
Your profile
Essential skills
- Minimum 6 years of professional experience, with significant experience in at least two of the following: public procurement for supplies and services, supplier negotiations, drafting and implementing purchase contracts.
- Demonstrable knowledge of public procurement law and the procedures required for public contracts.
- Proven ability to negotiate supplier agreements and translate commercial terms into executable contracts.
- Strong communication skills, able to present complex procurement issues clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Practical risk analysis and contract management skills, including KPI definition and supplier performance follow-up.
- Customer-focused and results-oriented approach, able to advise internal clients and deliver pragmatic procurement solutions.