Purchasing & Procurement Lead (Scale-up Process & Systems Build)

Im Alejandro Martínez a freelance headhunter currently supporting a leading scale-up technology company in its search for a Purchasing & Procurement Lead.

The company is undergoing a major operational transformation. This is not a corporate procurement role. This is a hands-on builder position in a growing company where processes documentation and tooling are still evolving.

Context

The company is transitioning from a highly manual procurement setup (Google Forms email approvals spreadsheets) to its first centralized procurement system.

There is no existing procurement team. This role will own everything end to end: process design system rollout stakeholder alignment training vendor management and day-to-day execution.

A procurement software has already been shortlisted and vendor support will be provided.

This is a strategic position reporting directly to the CFO & COO offering the opportunity to lead a project that will define the companys internal efficiency and digital maturity for years to come.

Tasks

Your Mission

You will design implement and operationalize the companys procurement function ensuring its adoption across the business.

This role combines:

• Process design
• System implementation
• Change management
• Daily operational procurement

You will work closely with Finance IT Legal Office Management and Leadership acting as the central point of ownership.

Key responsibilities

• Design and implement a company-wide procurement process from scratch.
• Lead the rollout and adoption of a procurement software coordinating with the vendor and internal stakeholders.
• Map existing purchasing workflows and translate them into clear scalable processes.
• Define approval flows policies and governance adapted to a growing scale-up.
• Drive training and communication so teams understand not just the tool but the process.
• Manage supplier relationships negotiations renewals and contracts.
• Own day-to-day procurement operations across all categories (software services office subscriptions etc.).
• Act as a hands-on project owner pushing decisions forward and managing ambiguity.
• Ensure alignment with security compliance and finance requirements.

Requirements

What Were Looking For

This role is ideal for someone who has built things before not just optimized them.

Must-have

• 58 years of experience in Procurement Operations or similar roles.
• Proven experience building or implementing processes and systems ideally in startups scale-ups or complex SMEs.
• Comfortable operating without documentation structure or a team.
• Strong communication skills able to explain train push back and align stakeholders.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Finance IT and Legal.
• Fluent in English and Spanish.
• Willing to work from Málaga under a hybrid model.

Nice to have (not mandatory)

• Experience with procurement or ERP tools (implementation or heavy usage).
• Background in startups consulting or early-stage teams.
• Exposure to compliance audits or structured approval processes.

Benefits

• Location: Málaga Spain
• Work model: Hybrid (first 2 months on-site then 3 days/week on-site 2 days remote). This setup is non-flexible due to close collaboration required with key departments during rollout.
• Compensation:total package
• Relocation package available including relocation assistance for family.
• Candidates must hold EU citizenship or an existing Spanish work permit.
• The company cannot sponsor or transfer work visas (e.g. Highly Qualified Visa).
• Support provided for relocation logistics documentation and local registration.

Recruitment process

1. CV review and first interview with Alejandro Martínez
2. Second interview with the Client Finance team to assess skills motivation and organizational fit.
3. Final interview with the COO and key stakeholders involved in the procurement transformation project.