Strategic Procurement Manager Defence/ Munitions (all genders)

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective — providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems — not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe, today. ABOUT THE TEAM Our procurement team, embedded within the supply chain department, consists of Category Buyers, Non-Production Buyers, and Prototype Buyers. Together, we ensure production continuity by sourcing essential parts, planning supplier orders, managing safety stock, and implementing multi-source strategies, while selecting strategic suppliers to support our continuous ramp-up. We thrive in an agile, high-workload environment, where success requires strong organizational skills and the ability to effectively manage and prioritize information from various channels. YOUR MISSION As the Team Lead Procurement Indirect Material and Prototypes, you will be responsible for the strategic oversight and operational execution of all non-production goods and R&D prototypes. Your mission is to lead complex supplier negotiations (e.g. R&D contracts), implement dedicated sourcing strategies, find early preventive measures in order to mitigate the risk of creating monopolists, ensure the continuous and compliant supply of indirect materials and critical R&D components, directly supporting STARK’s seamless business operations and rapid development cycle. RESPONSIBILITIES * Team Leadership and Development: Provide disciplinary and technical leadership to the Procurement team, mentoring team members (e.g., Procurement Managers, Non-Production Buyers) and managing resource allocation to ensure departmental goals are met.  * Strategic Sourcing - Indirect and Prototypes: Develop and execute advanced sourcing strategies for all non-production goods (e.g., test equipment, IT, office supplies) and R&D prototype materials. Lead high-stakes negotiations for R&D contracts, pricing, and framework contracts with strategic suppliers. * Operational Procurement Management: Oversee the entire procurement lifecycle for indirect and prototype materials, from identifying and qualifying suppliers to managing purchase requests (PRs) and converting approved requests/Jira tickets into formal Purchase Orders (POs). * Risk and Supply Assurance: Proactively analyze spending patterns and market trends to identify opportunities for cost savings and consolidation. Manage and monitor supplier performance, ensuring adherence to quality, delivery, and compliance standards for non-production goods and R&D parts. * Process and Tool Ownership: Oversee the optimization and implementation of digital procurement processes and tools, utilizing ERP systems (Oracle NetSuite) for inventory, purchasing, and data clean-up. Ensure effective integration of the Jira ticketing system for internal requests. * Cross-Functional Interface: Serve as the main point of contact for internal stakeholders (R&D, Finance, IT, Logistics). Resolve issues related to orders, delivery delays, discrepancies, or incorrect invoicing. * Reporting & Governance: Report directly to the Global Head of Procurement including preparing reports and analyses on supply chain performance and evaluating/implementing supply chain management software and technologies QUALIFICATIONS * Completed degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or a comparable qualification. * Several years of professional experience in strategic procurement or supply chain management, including demonstrated experience in a leadership or team lead role. * Profound knowledge in all areas of the supply chain, from forecasting and material planning to negotiation and troubleshooting of bottlenecks. * Exceptional skills in contract negotiation and managing supplier performance in a fast-paced, defense-related environment. * Strong analytical and conceptual skills with a proven ability to solve complex problems and develop innovative solutions. * Structured, independent, and goal-oriented way of working. * Strong teamwork skills and a willingness to take responsibility. * Experience in the defense, aerospace, or high-tech electronics industry is highly valued. NICE TO HAVE * Experience in the defense, aerospace, or high-tech electronics industry is highly valued. * Fluency in both German and English.

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective — providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems — not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe, today. ABOUT THE TEAM Our procurement team, embedded within the supply chain department, consists of Category Buyers, Non-Production Buyers, and Prototype Buyers. Together, we ensure production continuity by sourcing essential parts, planning supplier orders, managing safety stock, and implementing multi-source strategies, while selecting strategic suppliers to support our continuous ramp-up. We thrive in an agile, high-workload environment, where success requires strong organizational skills and the ability to effectively manage and prioritize information from various channels. YOUR MISSION As the Teamlead Category Procurement , you will be responsible for the strategic oversight and operational excellence of a dedicated procurement team. Your mission is to lead complex supplier negotiations, implement robust sourcing strategies, and ensure a reliable, cost-efficient supply chain for all mission-critical components, directly supporting the rapid scaling of STARK’s R&D and production efforts for autonomous systems. RESPONSIBILITIES * Team Leadership and Development: Provide disciplinary and technical leadership to the Procurement team, mentoring team members (e.g., Procurement Managers, Buyers) and managing resource allocation to ensure departmental goals are met. * Risk and Supply Assurance: Proactively identify, analyze and mitigate critical supply chain risks, including managing long lead times and obsolescence.  * Drive the rapid identification, verification and implementation of second-source components in close coordination with Engineering to prevent production line stoppages. * Process and Tool Ownership: Oversee the optimization and implementation of digital procurement processes and tools utilizing ERP systems (Oracle NetSuite) for nventory, purchasing and data clean-up * Cross-Functional Interface: Serve as the main point of contact for internal stakeholders (R&D, Production, Quality, Logistics). Facilitate the New Product. * Introduction (NPI) process and manage Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) related to new suppliers or components. * Reporting & Governance: Report directly to the Global Head of Procurement including preparing reports and analyses on supply chain performance and evaluating/implementing supply chain management software and technologies. QUALIFICATIONS * Completed degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or a comparable qualification. * Several years of professional experience in strategic procurement, operations or supply chain management, including demonstrated experience in a leadership or team lead role. * Profound knowledge in all areas of the supply chain, from forecasting and material planning to negotiation and troubleshooting of bottlenecks * Exceptional skills in contract negotiation and managing supplier performance in a fast-paced, defense-related environment. * Strong analytical and conceptual skills with a proven ability to solve complex problems and develop innovative solutions. * Structured, independent, and goal-oriented way of working. * Strong teamwork skills and a willingness to take responsibility. NICE TO HAVE * Experience in the defense, aerospace, or high-tech electronics industry is highly valued. * Fluency in both German and English.

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective — providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems — not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe, today. YOUR MISSION As a Supply Chain Manager – Change Management, you will coordinate and manage engineering and supply chain change processes across multiple departments to ensure smooth implementation from planning to execution. You will act as a central interface between Design Engineering, Product Engineering, Procurement, Warehouse, and Production to ensure that change requests are properly planned, documented, and implemented. By maintaining accurate documentation, managing ERP data, and tracking the implementation of changes on the production line, you will help ensure efficient processes and seamless transitions from design updates to operational execution. RESPONSIBILITIES * Develop and implement strategies to optimize the entire supply chain, ensuring a seamless flow from procurement to final delivery. * Identify inefficiencies within the supply chain and implement sustainable improvement measures to eliminate bottlenecks. * Coordinate and manage the end-to-end change management process, ensuring smooth transitions from design updates to operational execution. * Work closely with Design, Product Engineering, Procurement, and Production to ensure alignment on all change requests. * Manage the transition of approved changes to Procurement and the warehouse to ensure implementation readiness on the production line. * Monitor and control inventory levels to minimize overstock and ensure a lean, responsive supply chain. * Maintain and manage all documentation within the NetSuite ERP system. * Track the status of change requests to provide full transparency and ensure synchronized processes across all internal and external partners. QUALIFICATIONS * BSc in supply chain, logistics, engineering or a comparable field * Experience in supply chain coordination, production planning, engineering support, or change management is an advantage * Strong organizational and coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and stakeholders * High attention to detail, especially when working with technical documentation and data * Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams such as Engineering, Procurement, Warehouse, and Production * Experience working with ERP systems; familiarity with NetSuite is a plus * Structured and solution-oriented working style * Good communication skills and the ability to follow up on processes and ensure progress * Good English skills; German is an advantage