Senior Indirect Buyer

Job description

ABOUT US Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Following the close of a $200M Series B, valuing the company at $1.4 billion, we are expanding our teams and capabilities to deliver mission-critical systems to allied forces. Our work is guided by clear values: building technologies with real-world impact, pursuing excellence in everything we do, setting ambitious goals, and taking on the hardest technical challenges. We operate in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and execution are expected. ABOUT THE ROLE As we scale rapidly, we are investing in building the internal infrastructure that will support that growth - and indirect procurement is one of the last functions to be formally structured. To date, indirect spend and capital equipment purchases have been handled directly by the business units themselves, without centralised procurement oversight, sourcing strategy or supplier governance. This role is a creation. You will be the first person at Harmattan to own this perimeter end-to-end - building the function from scratch, bringing structure where there is currently none, and establishing yourself as the go-to partner for every team when it comes to non-production spend and investment. This is not a role for someone looking to manage an existing process. It is a role for someone who sees an unmapped territory and wants to shape it. RESPONSIBILITIES Strategy & Governance - Own the indirect sourcing strategy across all non-production categories: MRO, facilities, IT hardware and software, professional services, marketing & communications, travel, and CAPEX. - Define and implement sourcing plans by category — market analysis, supplier segmentation, make-or-buy considerations. - Build and maintain a supplier panel for indirect spend, ensuring performance, compliance and value-for-money. - Establish governance frameworks for indirect procurement: purchasing policy, approval thresholds, preferred supplier lists. - Ensure full traceability of indirect spend and report to management on savings, risks and category performance. Sourcing & Negotiation - Lead RFQs and competitive tenders for indirect categories and capital expenditure. - Negotiate contracts, framework agreements and SLAs with indirect suppliers — with full autonomy up to the defined financial threshold. - Conduct total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis to support investment and sourcing decisions. - Challenge internal demand and specifications before engaging the market — cost avoidance is as important as cost reduction. CAPEX Management - Lead procurement for capital equipment — from expression of need to supplier selection, negotiation and contract execution. - Coordinate with Finance and project teams to align CAPEX procurement with budget cycles and investment plans. - Ensure proper asset tracking and documentation in the ERP (Odoo). Operational Excellence - Manage purchase orders for indirect spend within your autonomous signature authority threshold. - Ensure compliance with internal purchasing policy across all business units and flag deviations. - Continuously improve indirect procurement processes — tools, templates, workflows. - Act as the internal point of contact for any indirect spend or investment request. CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS - 5+ years of experience in indirect procurement or sourcing, with demonstrated ownership of multiple spend categories. - Proven track record in contract negotiation across a variety of indirect categories — from MRO and facilities to IT and professional services. - Experience managing CAPEX procurement, including capital equipment and infrastructure investment. - Strategic mindset — able to build category strategies, not just react to purchase requests. - Strong analytical skills: TCO modeling, spend analysis, savings tracking. - Comfortable operating with autonomy and making decisions within a defined authority framework. - Proficiency with an ERP system — Odoo preferred, or equivalent (SAP, Oracle, Dynamics). - Fluent in French and English — many suppliers and internal stakeholders operate in both languages. - Experience in a high-growth startup, defense, aeronautics or deep-tech environment is a strong plus. WHY JOIN Full ownership of a greenfield indirect procurement function — you will build it from the ground up. Autonomous signature authority up to a defined threshold, with direct visibility to Procurement and Finance leadership. A fast-growing company where indirect spend is scaling rapidly — the scope of this role will grow with the business. Close collaboration with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Sales & Marketing and HR — this role touches every part of the company. We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.