Buyer - Direct Procurement - Mechelen, BE or Leiden, NL

Pleased to meet you, we are Galapagos, a dynamic fast growing Biotech company with offices in Europe and the US.

We’re in the business of changing lives. In our quest to discover and develop life-improving medicines we go where no one has ever gone before. In every challenge we face, we see new opportunities. We pioneer for patients. We need thought leaders and rapid thinkers, entrepreneurs in spirit and status quo-fighters. Collaborative innovators and perseverant idealists. We need the best-in-class. In other words, we need you: The ‘make-it-happener’.

We are looking for a Buyer - Direct Procurement - Mechelen, BE or Leiden, NL

Core Purpose of Job:

The Procurement Team has embarked onto a transformational journey aimed to operate transversally and in an agile manner – breaking down silos and operating with flexibility to deliver strategic solutions that not only optimize our supply chains but also enhance operational efficiency and build strategic partnerships with our suppliers.

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic Buyer. In this role, you’ll lead the sourcing and tendering process and support the Category Manager in the deployment of the category strategies across different activities such as raw material, lab consumables & supplies, CAPEX equipment or services. The ideal candidate must possess strong analytical skills, excellent communication abilities and meticulous attention to detail.

Your role

You like to work in an environment where you can:

• Work cross-functionally with internal teams to manage projects and ensure their successful deployment across the organization.
• Cultivate strong relationships based on trust with your colleagues, business stakeholders and the suppliers in your portfolio.
• Influence how Procurement creates impact at GLPG through your business partnering skills.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the procurement function, including process enhancements, technology adoption, and cost reduction efforts.
• Focus yourself on added values activities to maximize your impact, drive innovation and contribute to the success and growth of the organization.

You will contribute by:

• Supporting the category manager in category strategies development and deployment: updating spend map and supplier categorization.
• Supporting the category manager on operational tasks
• Ensuring proactively the follow-up and monitoring of the on-going projects: monitoring change requests and supporting Business on resolving critical commercial issues.
• Leading proactively procurement activities and projects with the internal stakeholders and managing the sourcing/tendering process (RFx): from needs identification, through tendering strategy, negotiations, and vendor selection.
• Leading the negotiation of the business and commercial terms of the contracts and demonstrating value for money.
• Proactively engaging with relevant stakeholders and build strong relationships.
• Supporting Supplier Relationship Management at operational level with key stakeholders and strategic suppliers.
• Understanding the existing market industry and analysing the market’s competitive trends, dynamics and disruptors
• Supporting implementation of new/improved procurement process/way of working/approach, taking into account the environment and different stakeholders.

Who are you?

• An education at university level is required (Master’s degree in economics, business, procurement and supply chain, etc...)

• Minimum 3 years of experience in an international environment; experience in direct procurement, CAPEX/OPEX in chemical/pharmaceutical environment or life science sector is a significant plus.
• Curious, fast learner and interest in working in a highly scientific environment.
• Excellent commercial negotiation skills and good basis in contract negotiation.
• Strong analytical and quantitative modelling skills including the ability to structure, collect, analyse, and communicate insights based on data in an organized manner.
• Great communication skills - engage in proactive and effective communication to drive collaboration with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Solid teamwork mindset: develop strong relationships and foster open communication.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Hands on and proactive in operational management & follow up.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and can navigate self through periods of uncertainty.
• Fluent in English, Dutch is a plus.

Based in Leiden (NL) or in Mechelen (BE) with frequent travel between sites required.

What’s in it for you?

You will be part of a fast growing and amazing company. As ‘make-it-happener’ you will get all the support you need to make your job successful. At Galapagos we aim to recruit the best people, who stand out among their peers, with integrity and excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. Our employees are the strength behind Galapagos, a highly motivated team, eager to maintain Galapagos’ leading position and achieve breakthroughs in biopharmaceutical research. Galapagos offers a competitive remuneration package and a dynamic work environment.

We are Galapagos: together we can make it happen…!