Outsourcing Procurement Specialist

Robin Radar is scaling fast and how we build and assemble our radars has to scale with it. Should we assemble in-house, or with the right manufacturing partners? Making that call, and making it work, is your job.

As our Outsourcing Procurement Specialist, you own the make-vs-buy question for how Robin Radar manufactures and assembles its radars. You run the analysis; cost, capability, capacity, risk and lead time and decide where partnering beats building in-house, and where it doesn’t.

You find and qualify the right manufacturing and assembly partners, across the Dutch ecosystem and globally, and you project-manage the setup from first conversation to reliable, on-spec delivery. It’s a role that switches fluidly between sharp procurement thinking and hands-on project management, sitting between our engineering and operations teams and the partners who help us build at scale. This role reports to the Head of Procurement.

Responsibilities

• Own the make-vs-buy analysis for radar manufacturing and assembly. Weighing cost, in-house capability, capacity, risk and lead time and bring clear, fact-based recommendations to leadership.

• Find, benchmark and qualify manufacturing and assembly partners (contract manufacturers / EMS) across the Dutch and European ecosystem and internationally.

• Translate engineering and operations needs into clear Statements of Work and requirements, so partners deliver exactly what’s needed without ambiguity.

• Switch fluidly between procurement and project management: drive partner onboarding and delivery against milestones, on schedule and to spec.

• Define how we work with each partner, from adding specialist capacity to outsourcing full assembly.

• Negotiate and structure contracts, SLAs and pricing models that protect quality, IP, delivery reliability and continuity, and that keep us out of unhealthy dependency.

• Build the roadmap for transferring assembly knowledge and processes to partners, while keeping critical capability and control in-house.

• Act as the bridge between cost targets, internal teams and external partners. Managing both the numbers and the human side of outsourcing decisions.

Requirements

• A degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations or Business or equivalent experience.

• 8+ years in strategic procurement, manufacturing sourcing, contract manufacturing / EMS, or technical project management, ideally for physical or hardware products.

• Proven ownership of make-vs-buy decisions, with a solid grasp of Total Cost of Ownership for manufacturing and assembly.

• Hands-on experience qualifying and managing manufacturing and assembly suppliers, both in the Netherlands / Europe and internationally.

• Comfortable running sourcing as projects: milestones, weighted scoring, and fact-based decisions backed by Excel, Sheets or ERP data.

• Awareness of IP protection, quality and contractual risk across jurisdictions.

• Strong stakeholder management — you secure buy-in across conflicting interests, set boundaries, and stay solution-focused under pressure.

• You thrive in continuous, fast-paced change — at Robin, that’s not a nice-to-have.

• Comfortable with a hybrid role and available for occasional travel to partners.

N.B. All applicants, we realize that this is quite the list and people come with various levels of experience. Don’t be afraid to apply even if you feel you don’t meet every desired skill. Our mission is a journey and there’s plenty to learn on the way!

But of course, you should identify with our core values: We trust, We own it & We aim high.

Also please be aware that we will request a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) and conduct a background check according to our screening policy. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

What’s in for you

• Working for a Great Place to Work® certified company;

• Comprehensive pension plan;

• Commuting allowance;

• 30 days of paid holiday leave (with the possibility to buy 3 additional days);

• Opportunities to develop your skills even further through training and certifications;

• High quality laptop/desktop, monitor, noise canceling headphones, and any other equipment necessary for your role;

• An international team of 30+ nationalities, full of high performance colleagues you can exchange experiences with and learn from. As well as having a lot of fun in our social events and Friday drinks!

Robin is a technology leader in tracking and classification of small objects. Our mission is to increase the safety of people and wildlife by preventing bird strikes in aviation, reducing the environmental impact of wind farms, and protecting humans and critical infrastructure against drones. We achieve this by combining purpose-built radars with unique software algorithms. This powerful combination allows us to provide actionable information that empowers users to prevent serious incidents.

We’re growing. Fast. In fact, we are one of the top 10 fastest‑growing companies in the Netherlands. But despite this growth, we stay true to our core values of trust, ownership and aiming high. At Robin, you don’t join just a team.