Purchasing Specialist

Within the Global Procurement, Third-Party & Facility Management department, the Purchasing Specialist supports the organization’s financial resilience through essential operational procurement activities.

Department

Global Procurement, Third-Party & Facility Management is a key part of our COO domain. Our mission is to enhance financial resilience, operational efficiency, and sustainability by managing critical resources, vendor relationships, and workplace services across the organization.

The department consists of four interconnected teams:

• Procurement – Driving cost optimization and proactive contract management with the goal of achieving financial resilience through our vendors.
• Third-Party Management – Ensuring robust risk management, compliance, and governance with the goal of contributing to operational resilience in all engagements with third parties.
• Sustainable Operations – Putting our net-zero ambitions into practice for our offices worldwide, engaging with key vendors to monitor and manage CO₂ emissions consumed via our vendor ecosystem.
• Facility Management – Creating a safe, efficient, and collaborative work environment through high-quality office services and infrastructure management.

Collectively, this department strengthens financial stability, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency, while supporting the achievement of our net zero ambitions for Robeco’s own operations.

Together, we are transforming into a strategic partner that enables business growth while safeguarding compliance and corporate values. Working with us means collaborating with global stakeholders and external vendors, contributing to initiatives that impact the entire organization, and helping shape how Robeco operates worldwide.

Our culture is professional yet collaborative—we value transparency, celebrate milestones, and encourage continuous improvement. Joining our department offers exposure to diverse projects, opportunities to innovate, and the chance to make a real impact on cost efficiency, risk resilience, and sustainability.

Position & Requirements

As a Purchasing Specialist (Level 4) within the Procurement team, you support the organization’s financial resilience by executing essential operational procurement activities. You work under clear guidance and established procedures, handling standard, recurring tasks that ensure accurate and timely processing of requisitions, purchase orders, and invoices. You request quotes for simple, low-complexity purchases and source goods and services strictly within approved frameworks. This role is designed to build foundational procurement capabilities and requires attention to detail, willingness to learn, and a strong focus on accuracy and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Transactional Buying

• Executes basic sourcing tasks such as requesting quotes for simple, low-value purchases using predefined suppliers.
• Performs sourcing activities under established guidance with limited need for independent judgment.
• Supports sourcing under existing frameworks but does not independently compare supplier proposals.
• Validates invoices against basic contract terms and supports Finance with straightforward discrepancies.

Fleet Management

• Supports operational fleet administration following established guidelines, where applicable, for international offices.

Operational Procurement

• Executes purchase requisition and purchase order processing under defined rules and procedures.
• Handles standard and recurring procurement activities with limited complexity.
• Monitors order status and follows up on basic confirmations and deliveries.
• Identifies standard issues and escalates non-standard or more complex cases to senior colleagues.
• Maintains accurate procurement records and adheres to policy and documentation requirements.

Process & Stakeholder Support

• Provides procedural support to business users on standard operational procurement questions.
• Learns and applies procurement policies, P2P processes, and ERP system functionality.

Development & Growth

• Focuses on building foundational procurement knowledge and strengthening data accuracy.
• Applies curiosity and initiative to learn digital tools and process workflows.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 1–2 years of experience in procurement operations, purchasing administration, or a similar transactional role.
• Experience working with standard procurement processes under supervision.

Technical Expertise

• Basic understanding of purchase-to-pay (P2P) processes and procurement policies.
• Familiarity with ERP systems, such as Workday, and procurement tools.
• Ability to process purchase requisitions, purchase orders, and invoices accurately.
• Basic knowledge of contract administration, for example validating that invoice terms match contract conditions.
• Experience in Market Data Management tools, such as INFOmatch, is a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong attention to detail and high accuracy in data entry and documentation.
• Good organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to follow structured procedures and escalate non-standard issues as needed.
• Service-oriented mindset with clear and professional communication.

Analytical & Problem-Solving

• Ability to perform basic checks on coding, supplier selection, and pricing.
• Capable of recognizing discrepancies in invoices or orders and escalating appropriately.
• Growing ability to interpret simple procurement data.

Innovation & Technology

• Curiosity and willingness to learn new technologies, including digital tools that support operational procurement.
• Comfortable using ERP functionality to improve accuracy and efficiency.

Behavioural Attributes

• Proactive, adaptable, and eager to develop procurement skills.
• Positive “can-do” attitude with a structured and reliable working style.
• Recognizes when guidance or escalation is required.
• Strong collaboration mindset and willingness to support team processes.

As a Dutch asset manager operating globally, Robeco combines global reach and ambitions with its head office in Rotterdam. We offer an informal and flexible office atmosphere that gives people room to be themselves, to grow, and to perform to the best of their ability.