Deputy Service Manager / Lead Procurement Specialist Opportunity – European Space Agency
Location: ESRIN, Frascati (Italy)
Overview
Octagon Professionals International is seeking a Deputy Service Manager / Lead Procurement Specialist to help lead ESA's Purchase Office Support Service. You will be the operational engine behind the service - deputising for the Service Manager, steering complex procurement, and keeping delivery consistent across ESA's establishments. It is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys both strategy and detail. You will join Octagon, a professional-services partner that has worked alongside ESA and other international institutions for more than 35 years.
Role & Responsibilities
- Act as deputy to the Service Manager and lead the service in their absence.
- Coordinate operational delivery across all ESA sites.
- Ensure procurement processes are applied consistently and correctly.
- Manage complex, high-value procurement cases from start to finish.
- Mentor and support procurement staff across the team.




- Drive service improvement and harmonisation initiatives.

Essential Skills & Experience
- Degree in Procurement, Law, Business or Engineering.
- 8-10 years of procurement experience.
- Strong commercial and contractual knowledge.
- Proven leadership experience.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder skills; fluent English.

Desirable Skills & Experience
- Experience within ESA or a comparable international or public procurement environment.
- Professional procurement qualification (e.G. CIPS).
- Experience with SAP or an equivalent ERP system.
- Experience coordinating teams across multiple locations.

Package
- Competitive salary: commensurate with skills and experience.
- Fixed-term contract aligned to the ESA Purchase Office Support Service, with strong potential for extension.
- Hybrid working at ESTEC (Noordwijk, Netherlands), ESRIN (Frascati, Italy) or ESAC (Madrid, Spain)
- Comprehensive benefits, plus visa and relocation s

📌 Lead Procurement Specialist (Piedimonte)
🏢 Octagon Professionals International
📍 Piedimonte