Team Lead Category Procurement

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.