Head of Procurement (d/f/m) at Solaris

Solaris is a tech company with a full German banking license. Our Banking-as-a-Service platform enables businesses to offer their own financial products. With our straightforward APIs, our partners can access and integrate a wide range of solutions such as digital banking, payments, cards, identification and lending services. As a market leader we are driven by bringing transformational change to the financial services industry.

We love what we do and we love our team. We are 500+ people from over 70 nationalities - a unique blend of techies, fintech enthusiasts, bankers and entrepreneurs from various industries. Our routines are built around genuinely valuing and exchanging different perspectives as well as actively sharing knowledge as we drive our business as a team. We believe and invest in personal growth.

Your Role 

Procurement Strategy & Governance:

• Develop and implement a procurement strategy aligned with Solaris’s goals and regulatory obligations
• Align with existing third-party risk management frame works and develop procurement policies and procedures in line with regulatory standards (e.g., MaRisk, DORA) and best practice

Cost Management and Negotiations

• Negotiate contracts and agreements to achieve reasonable terms in regards to cost, quality, and delivery
• Identify cost-saving opportunities balancing cost & quality

Establish Procurement Partnership collaboration

• Partner with cross-functional teams to understand procurement needs and provide tailored solutions
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing procurement team
• Promote a culture of transparency, cost-awareness, and operational excellence
• Communicate procurement performance and key metrics to the Director of Third Party Management and other stakeholders

Operational Procurement & Contract Management

• Lead sourcing activities for goods and services, including IT, professional services, and facilities
• Optimize procurement processes through automation, digital tools, and KPIs
• Manage end-to-end procurement processes (RFI/RFP/RFQ, negotiation, contracting, purchase order management)
• Establish and maintain strong supplier relationships, manage contract renewals, contractual escalations and re-negotiation together with the business function
• Support the Business along the due diligence for new providers

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management 

• Collaborate with legal, compliance, and risk management functions to ensure appropriate contractual protections and governance for all procurement activities
• Ensure all procurement activities comply with internal policies and external regulations
• Assess and mitigate risks associated with suppliers and procurement processes

We'd love to see  

Depending on your level of experience, your responsibilities and scope of role will range. We don’t care much about fancy titles, but rather about real personal and professional development, as laid out in our learning framework. Let’s figure together out how you can contribute to our team.

• Minimum 8 years of experience in procurement, ideally in the financial services industry or other regulated environments
• Proven experience in managing procurement functions with significant vendor and contract complexity
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks applicable to financial institutions in Germany (e.g., BaFin, MaRisk, EBA Guidelines on Outsourcing)
• Experience in negotiating large-scale contracts, particularly in IT and professional services
• Demonstrated leadership and people management experience
• Familiarity with procurement and Contract Management tools (e.g., SAP, DocuSign) and process automation procurement data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions
• Fluent English language communication skills and German communication skills is a strong advantage
• Proactive and hands-on approach to addressing challenges and driving procurement initiatives
• Strong negotiation skills, with the ability to secure favorable terms and build beneficial supplier relationships
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively negotiate with suppliers and communicate with stakeholders across all levels of the organization
• Ability to understand and consider the perspectives of team members, suppliers, and internal stakeholders, fostering a positive working environment
• Skilled in managing and resolving conflicts that may arise during negotiations or in supplier relationships
   

Benefits

• We have a "remote-friendly" working arrangement
• Home office budget
• Learning & Development budget
• Transparent framework to support your career goals
• Competitive salary

While job ads usually paint an ideal picture of a candidate, studies show that most applicants meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Unfortunately, many promising candidates tend to apply only if they meet all the criteria. So if you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single item in the job description, please contact us anyway. We'd love to talk with you and find out if you might be a good fit for us.

At Solaris, we are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment, where all Solarians feel valued, respected and supported. We are dedicated to building a diverse workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of color, ethnicity, religion, sex, origin, disability, marital status, citizenship, or gender identity. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Information on data processing:

DE: https://www.solarisgroup.com/gdpr_notice_de
EN: https://www.solarisgroup.com/gdpr_notice_en

To all recruitment agencies: Solaris does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Solaris employees or any other venture in our ecosystem. Solaris is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.