Buyer - Lab Material R&I

Research & Innovation

Buyer - Lab Material R&I

About the job

Are you a buyer within R&D or laboratory environments, with deep knowledge of life‑science materials and suppliers? Are you passionate about enabling breakthrough research, ensuring seamless laboratory operations, and building strong supplier partnerships? We have an exciting opportunity as a Buyer - Lab Material R&I within our Specialized Nutrition Research & Innovation (SN R&I) division.

Our mission is to enable world‑class scientific innovation by ensuring researchers have timely access to the materials, equipment and supplier expertise needed to drive impactful discoveries.

Key deliverables and priorities include:

• Providing strategic and operational procurement support to all research teams.
• Ensuring continuity of research activities through accurate and timely purchasing.
• Managing supplier relationships to deliver competitive pricing, service and quality.
• Supporting CAPEX investments and long‑term purchasing agreements.
• Ensuring excellent internal service by partnering closely with researchers, logistics and stakeholders.

As Buyer R&I, part of the Specialized Nutrition R&I Procurement team, your key responsibilities will include:

• Facilitating, advising and executing all product orders requested by researchers — from chemicals and lab supplies to equipment, cell lines and antibodies.
• Selecting, negotiating with and monitoring suppliers, based on market knowledge and research needs.
• Choosing and executing the right sourcing tactics, ensuring compliance and process integrity.
• Managing annual purchase agreements, maintenance contracts and CAPEX‑related equipment buying.
• Working closely with researchers, logistics, stakeholders and a junior purchaser to ensure smooth operations and continuity of research activities.

Meet your future manager! You will report to Bart HEMELAAR, Purchasing & Logistics Manager.

About you

You have the knowledge and experience within a laboratory environment and life science suppliers to advise the researchers with the best lab materials or alternatives. You are a team player and are competent in purchasing.

You have a positive personality, connect well with existing networks and perform independently in cross functional settings.

In addition, you fit this role perfectly because you are/have:

• HBO level of working.
• Min. 5 years of experience in an R&D or Laboratory purchasing role, preferably within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology or medical industry.
• Life science supplier knowledge.
• You are customer oriented, have a problem-solving mindset and have strong laboratory knowledge to indicate the best materials.
• You are proactive, accurate, precise and able to work in a dynamic environment.
• You have strong negotiation skills.
• Strong communication skills in both Dutch and English.

About Danone

At Danone we are committed to our mission “bringing health, through food to as many people as possible”. We are working together to make sure that our brands, like Nutricia and Nutrilon, create real benefits for people, communities and the planet. You will be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world. Being B Corp means to be part of a select movement of companies verified to be meeting the highest standards of social and environmental criteria and using business as a force for good.

Our state-of-the-art research and innovation center builds bridges between food and science and is global in reach, founded on over 125 years of experience in life & food science, technology and user experience and is at the forefront of pioneering advances in specialized nutrition.

We offer:

All Danoners receive a complete package of benefits. This includes a competitive salary and yearly bonus, a premium free pension, 30 days of annual leave (with the opportunity to purchase more) and you will receive a monthly health care allowance. In addition, you can get discount on your gym membership, and we offer initiatives focused on nutrition, physical, and mental health. We provide continuous learning opportunities through workshops, online courses and training sessions.

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