We are looking for a dedicated, energetic and flexible Purchase Officer with the right mindset to join and strengthen our purchasing team (7 members in Purchasing and 4 members in the Stores) based at the EMBL headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. Within the Administration, the EMBL Purchase Department handles all purchase related activities according to the best-value-for-money principle in an international environment and provides state-of-the-art service to the scientific and administrative community. This position reports to the Head of Purchase Department. The candidate will play a key role within the institute by interacting with the scientific community and all major administrative departments (Finance, Accounting, Legal, HR, IT- Services, Facility Management, etc.) and acting as a point of contact for external partners. The successful candidate will be responsible for the sourcing and procurement of a wide range of products and services. The main focus of the role will be to purchase laboratory equipment and assist new group leaders in setting-up their laboratories. Various plastic-glassware, chemicals will also be part of the daily ordering routine. In addition, the candidate will advise and initiate various departments in the drafting of consultancy and service contracts and will prepare, review and process all contracts with the support of the EMBL Legal Department. Duties and responsibilities: Accurate and timely procurement of products and services Monitor purchase orders in SAP/ Workday in near future Cost-effective purchase of all materials and services whilst ensuring compliance with the EMBL policies and procedures Seek and partner with reliable suppliers, request quotations, negotiate effectively and maintain mutually beneficial relationships Provide first-rate customer service to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction and relieve the scientific community from all purchasing related administrative tasks Handle and resolve complaints in a timely and satisfactory manner Act as the interface between requisitioner and supplier Additional functions and occasional tasks: support and assist administrative assistants from other duty stations with purchasing related issues train new colleagues participates actively in the improvement of purchasing processes What we are looking for Essential University degree in Business Administration, Contract and Procurement or equivalent Purchasing experience (at least three years) Good understanding of commercial principles Excellent negotiation skills Excellent knowledge of and user proficiency in MS Office and Google Suite products Very good knowledge of and user proficiency of SAP MM module and Workday Procurement Excellent communication skills in order to build and maintain good relationships with suppliers and liaise effectively with management, staff and partner organizations Fluency in English is essential Excellent organizational skills, a problem-solving attitude and solid team work experience Self-initiative and the ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision Ability to successfully work in a small team whose success depends on highly integrated team work To perform the job successfully, the candidate should demonstrate the ability to: Work with people from different cultural backgrounds, contribute to building a positive team spirit and create a harmonious and fruitful working environment Work with integrity and ethics, promoting a harassment-free environment Engage with others in a tactful and constructive manner Manage multiple tasks simultaneously Desirable Previous experience gained from working within a scientific environment and a sound knowledge of the research branch suppliers A good command of German First experience in managing small projects, knowledge of digital/automated procurement solutions and familiarity with both SAP MM module and Workday Procurement solution would be an advantage. EMBL has embarked on a journey towards a more efficient, more streamlined and connected future by implementing the Workday cloud-based platform across its HR, Finance and Procurement areas; a cutting-edge solution that promises to redefine the way EMBL’s administration operates and interacts and enhance collaboration across the organization. The Workday solution will replace the current SAP ERP system. The position therefore requires mastering computing tools and the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a strong interest and affinity for digitization and to embrace change. Currently, the Purchase Department works with the SAP MM module (Material Management). The implementation of Workday for the procurement is planned during the course of 2025-2027. Contract length: 3 years (renewable up to 9 years) Salary: Grade 4, monthly salary from 3.607,43 EUR after tax, excluding personal pension and insurance contributions. Plus financial allowances based on family circumstances. Why join us EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation. We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy. Enjoy lots of benefits: Financial incentives: Salary free of income tax, Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances Flexible working arrangements Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover) Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to public holidays Relocation package including installation grant (if applicable) Campus life: Free shuttle bus (select sites), on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely) Family benefits: Kindergarten (Heidelberg), 10 days of child sick leave, generous paid maternity/parental leave and monthly family & child allowances Benefits for international newcomers: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance. For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here What else you need to know International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Visit our International Applicants page, to find out more. EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here. Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ & individuals from all nationalities. How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date. Closing Date 03/05/2025