Purchasing Manager, Direct & Indirect Categories

Purchasing Manager, Direct & Indirect Categories

Arques, France (Hybrid)

About the role

For our Animal Health Supply Chain organisation, we are looking for a Purchasing Manager to lead both Direct and Indirect procurement categories. This is a newly created role, offering the opportunity to further shape the purchasing setup within Animal Health.

In this position, you take ownership of procurement activities for raw materials, excipients and packaging materials, as well as indirect materials and services supporting the Animal Health business unit. Your focus is on ensuring material availability at the right quality, at the right time, and at the right cost, enabling stable production planning and overall supply chain performance.

You lead a small team of purchasing professionals and work closely with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. The role requires a structured, process-oriented mindset and the ability to balance strategic thinking with operational follow-up.

The role plays a key part in continuously improving procurement processes and ways of working within the Animal Health Supply Chain, while contributing to sustainability objectives and ensuring agreed service, efficiency, and cost targets are met.

The position is ideally based in Arques, France. Candidates should be willing to relocate and work on site. Regular travel to other Orion sites, suppliers and stakeholders is part of the role.

Your key responsibilities

Lead, coach and develop a small team of purchasers

Ensure uninterrupted availability of direct materials and oversee procurement of indirect materials and services for the Animal Health business unit

Develop and implement category strategies across your scope, driving cost optimisation while safeguarding quality, compliance and supply reliability

Build strong, performance‑driven supplier relationships with a focus on continuous improvement

Support business cases, new product launches and cross‑functional projects with procurement expertise

Collaborate closely with Production Planning, Quality, Production, Regulatory Affairs, Warehouse, Logistics and other internal stakeholders

Contribute to agreed service, efficiency, sustainability and cost targets

You will be part of the Animal Health Supply Chain organisation and report directly to Irina Tornikoski, Director Global Supply Operations, Animal Health.

What we offer

A senior role within an international Animal Health organisation

The opportunity to shape a newly created position

A collaborative working environment with experienced colleagues

• A culture built on respect, inclusion, and innovation.

Autonomy in your role, with support from leadership when needed

Opportunities for professional development and cross-functional collaboration

Orion is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment. At Orion, your work creates true impact and well‑being for our customers, patients, and society.

Our culture of friendliness, respect, mutual appreciation and diversity creates a safe working environment where you can strive for excellence. We offer a wealth of career paths and development opportunities that support the development of innovative solutions and improving the quality of life.

Please visit our website to find further information about our values and Orion as an employer https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

We are looking for a senior procurement professional with several years of relevant experience, who is comfortable combining leadership responsibility with hands‑on involvement.

Required qualifications:

Proven experience managing multiple procurement categories, both direct and indirect

Demonstrated people management experience

Solid expertise in strategic procurement, category management, supplier relationship management and cost optimisation

Experience in a regulated environment; exposure to the pharmaceutical industry is strongly preferred

A relevant university degree (e.g. Supply Chain, Business Administration, Engineering or Life Sciences)

Fluency in French and English;
Dutch or Finnish are considered a plus

How you work:

You communicate…