Director of Purchasing and Supply Chain

**About SiPearl ****:
SiPearl is building the European high-performance low-power microprocessor dedicated to supercomputing and AI inference. This new generation of microprocessors will first target EuroHPC Joint Undertaking ecosystem, which is deploying world-class supercomputing infrastructures in Europe for solving major challenges in medical research, security, energy management and climate with a reduced environmental footprint.

SiPearl is working in close collaboration with its 30 partners from the European Processor Initiative (EPI) consortium - leading names from the scientific community, supercomputing centres and industry - which are its stakeholders, future clients and end-users.

SiPearl employs more than 190 people in France (Maisons-Laffitte, Grenoble, Massy, Sophia Antipolis), Germany (Duisburg) and Spain (Barcelona).

**Overall Purpose of the Role**: Responsibility and accountability for the purchase of software tools, hardware & lab systems, IP, goods, materials and services, including outsourced chip manufacturing and packaging, to ensure that the company’s strategic needs are met, taking into account functionality, price, quality and delivery and to ensure continuity of supply. This includes people and budget responsibility

**Key Responsibilities**:
**Strategy and Development**:

- Contribute to the creation and implementation of best practice procurement vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve operational performance.

**️ General and Task Management**
- Create and review opportunities to implement best practice purchasing policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve business performance and deliver best value and business savings.
- Provide management reports and key performance data and monitor efficient usage of our purchases and cost savings.
- Manage relationships with suppliers and select and develop new suppliers.
- Capture the relevant specifications and functionality requirements from R&D, Office of the CTO and IT to drive supplier selection.
- In partnership with our Legal affairs Department, negotiate and manage contract terms with suppliers to ensure value for money, quality standards and delivery terms.
- Review and negotiate existing agreements to optimize commercial terms.
- Assess tenders from potential suppliers.
- Work with suppliers and have a process in place to measure effective performance, quality and compliance. Measure against KPI criteria if these exist.
- Ensure professional and consistent supplier management is applied across the supply base in line with the purchasing policy.
- Ensure purchases are sourced in full and aligned to R&D schedules, production schedules and technology requirements.
- Ensure that the function operates in accordance with any health, safety and environmental policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff.

**️ People Management**
- Manage, coach and develop high performing purchasing and cost estimating teams that meet agreed objectives and which deliver best practice results, added value and continuous improvements.
- Set departmental objectives/KPIs and review and assess ongoing performance of direct reports.
- Report on achievement of targets and identify any actions required.

**Financial Budget and Control**:

- Input to and hold responsibility for department budget
- Estimate costs for budgeting puproses

**Relationship Management**
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure optimal performance.
- Work collaboratively, negotiate and engage with key stakeholders to facilitate delivery and compliance with the purchasing strategy.
- Communicate with stakeholders the impact of market change and potential effects on supply. Recommend solutions without compromising quality or service while optimising cost.
- Stay current and up to date on any changes that may affect the supply and demand of needed products and materials and advise others of any impact.
- Contribute to new business initiatives and projects and review and communicate the impact on Purchasing activities.
- Assist Senior Management in ensuring effective relationships with client businesses through maintaining an appropriate interface between procurement and suppliers.

**What would make you succeed in this role**:

- management skills with the ability to engage, negotiate and manage key internal stakeholders and suppliers.
- Strong and confident negotiator with the ability to negotiate at all levels.
- Strong communication, interpersonal and influencing skills.
- Strong analytical skills and problem solving abilities.
- Results orientated with the ability to plan and deliver against project deadlines.
- Commercially and financially aware with experience of managing budgets.
- Keen attention to detail and accuracy

**Qualifications and Experience Levels**:

- Relevant business/commercial (MBA or MSc in Supply Chain management/procurement) or manufacturi