Senior Procurement Manager

Summary

Join Highsnobiety as a Senior Procurement Manager in Berlin and design, implement, and manage procurement processes for HS+, the agency. You will establish vendor evaluation criteria, streamline sourcing and contract negotiations, and implement cost-control measures. This role requires strategic thinking, strong negotiation skills, and cross-functional collaboration. Responsibilities include developing a procurement framework, managing vendor relationships, overseeing contract negotiations, and working with finance teams on budgeting. You will also collaborate with various teams, improve procurement processes, and ensure compliance. The ideal candidate has 5-7 years of experience in procurement or operations management within a creative agency or related environment.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of experience in procurement or operations management within a creative agency, event production, or related environment
• Proven track record of managing end-to-end procurement processes, vendor negotiations and contract management in fast-paced settings
• Strong negotiation, budgeting, and financial management skills
• Proficiency in procurement software or tools, and familiarity with contract management systems
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong vendor and internal stakeholder relationships
• Ability to work collaboratively across various departments, including creative, production, finance, and account management
• Strategic thinker with a problem-solving approach and a keen eye for detail
• Adaptable and proactive in managing change in a dynamic, creative environment
• Passion for driving efficiency and innovation while upholding high-quality standards

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive procurement framework tailored for HS+ and integrated brand-driven events
• Define guiding principles and standard operating procedures to streamline vendor sourcing, selection, and contracting processes across all HS+ teams
• Identify opportunities for cost savings with Quarterly reporting while maintaining high-quality standards across all projects
• Lead negotiations for vendor agreements, with a strong focus on securing cost-efficient, high-quality partnerships
• Oversee contract negotiations for retainer deals, ensuring long-term value, competitive pricing, and favorable terms for the agency
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key vendors, freelancers, and production partners to ensure seamless collaboration and service reliability
• Maintain and regularly update our preferred vendor list across all departments, based on performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness
• Work closely with finance and project teams to align procurement activities with budgetary targets and forecasts
• Monitor procurement spend, track cost efficiencies, and report regularly on financial performance and savings achieved
• Partner with creative, production, and account management teams to ensure procurement processes integrate smoothly with project workflows
• Act as the primary liaison for procurement-related discussions, ensuring transparent communication and timely resolution of any issues
• Provide procurement insights during project scoping, planning, and execution phases to optimize resource allocation
• Develop and implement procurement metrics and KPIs to assess vendor performance and procurement process effectiveness
• Continuously review and refine procurement practices to support rapid scaling and evolving creative needs
• Ensure all procurement activities comply with internal policies, legal regulations, and industry best practices
• Drive initiatives to educate and support internal teams on new procurement processes, ensuring seamless adoption across the agency
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation by incorporating feedback from stakeholders into procurement strategies

Benefits

• A bright and spacious design office, which reflects our brand and focuses on employee well-being and sustainability, located close to U Kurfüstenstrasse
• The opportunity to shape the company and help build a global brand in a motivating, international and diverse work atmosphere
• High degree of responsibility, creativity, originality, independence and creative autonomy
• We are constantly prioritizing attention on DEIB with internal trainings, workshops, parent friendly policies and our Employee Resource Groups (HighPower, HighPride, HighDreams & HighCulture)
• 2 extra days off globally for all employees on International Women's Day and Juneteenth
• Flexible hybrid working policy, dog friendly office, and remote international working option
• Access to visa support for employees relocating to Germany if needed
• Attractive employee benefits (e.g. discounts in our online shop, performance based bonus, ClassPass, access to mental health support platform Calm, bike leasing, sabbatical option)