Global Direct Category Buyer

**Location**: Supply Centre in Amsterdam, Bordeaux or Brussels

**Contract**: Permanent contract at 100%

**Starting date**: ASAP

**Closing date**: 29th of October 2025

**Compensation and benefits**: MSF practice is to offer the C&B package current in the MSF entity establishing the contract.

**I. MSF INTERNATIONAL**

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural disasters. MSF offers assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

MSF International is the legal entity that binds MSF’s 24 sections, 25 associations and other offices together. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International provides coordination, information and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implements international projects and initiatives as requested.

**II. CONTEXT**

Procurement of products and services is a critical activity for MSF operations and represents approximately half of MSF’s expenses. Therefore, MSF has undertaken significant efforts in recent years to strengthen and re-organize its procurement function, which have led to the creation of the Global Procurement Unit (GPU). The primary aim of the GPU is to streamline procurement activities and increase compliance, efficiency, and risk management.

Situated within MSF International Office, the role of the Global Procurement Unit is to lead global procurement strategies, to coordinate procurement efforts in the organization and to support the development of the procurement function across all MSF entities to efficiently contribute to MSF's social mission.

As part of the Global Procurement Unit, the Global Direct Category Buyer will:

- Report hierarchically to the Head of the Global Direct Procurement.
- Work closely with the QA counterparts at international and Supply Centers level, the regional hubs, other Category Buyers and the buyer community and working groups affiliated to the Category.
- Interact with other stakeholders within and outside the MSF movement: International Legal Department (ILD), Heads of Procurement and Buyers of other NGOs and UN entities.

**III. PURPOSE OF THE JOB**

The overall objective of this position is to develop and lead Global Procurement Strategies to manage and optimize the procurement spend of the Categories under their responsibility, to ensure that they are pertinent, efficient and respond to the global needs of MSF.

**IV. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES**

**1.Build a comprehensive analysis of the category and a strategy that responds to the needs of MSF entities and that is in line with the strategic objectives of the Global Procurement Unit.**
- Build a global picture of the category to provide an analysis on current situation and priorities.
- Establish the right channels of communication and processes to capture the needs from the different entities.
- Based on the above and on the strategic objectives of the GPU, formulate the strategic priorities for the category.
- Operationalise these strategic priorities into an action plan. Anticipate risks, resources and stakeholders to be engaged.

**2. Lead the strategic procurement activities for the category.**
- Perform the sourcing process for goods or services under assigned categories, in compliance with the procurement policy, the category strategy and the internal clients' requirements.
- Develop and maintain deep knowledge of market factors & trends affecting assigned categories, to develop supply chain optimization and risk mitigation strategies.
- Define, monitor and analyse the key indicators to follow your activity. Ensure that they respond to the needs of the entities, identify improvement areas and capitalize on them.

**3. Manage and develop Supplier Relationships and serve as MSF focal point for the strategic suppliers under Category responsibility.**
- Perform supplier segmentation and steer supplier relationships to develop a reliable and balanced supplier base.
- Implement a differentiated approach to developing strategic partnerships with priority suppliers and ensure unified messaging from MSF to the suppliers, while rationalizing the Tail-End supply base.
- Monitor supplier performance and ensure that structural corrective actions are taken when necessary. Handle escalations and strive to ensure issue resolution as well as mitigation.
- Encourage the engagement of suppliers into sustainability assessment.

**4. Define, develop and maintain a network of stakeholders as procurement focal point for the Category.**
- Know the main actors and key stakeholders for the category. Develop and mobilise a network required to smoothly carry out the activities under your responsibility.
- Develop and maintain a smooth flow of communication and feedback on the category activities to keep your stakeholders up to date and capture their feedback and areas of improvem