Procurement Manager – HV Substations & Energy Infrastructure

Procurement Manager – HV Substations & Energy Infrastructure

Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Sector: High Voltage Substations / Energy Infrastructure / EPC
Experience: 8+ years
Package: Competitive salary and benefits package
Travel: Occasional travel to project sites and suppliers across Europe

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Procurement Manager to lead and develop procurement and supply chain operations for major medium-voltage (MV) and high-voltage (HV) substation EPC projects across Northern Europe.

Based in Lisbon, this is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of procurement strategy within a growing engineering and energy infrastructure business, supporting major power projects across Norway, Finland and the wider European market.

You will play a key role in shaping procurement processes, developing strategic supplier relationships, negotiating high-value equipment and subcontract agreements, and ensuring critical materials and services are delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.

This position offers the opportunity to build and develop a procurement function as the business expands, with a clear potential progression path towards Head of Procurement.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement Strategy & Development

• Develop and implement procurement strategies, policies and procedures aligned with business objectives.
• Establish category strategies for key equipment and services, including power transformers, GIS/AIS switchgear, protection and control systems, cables, steel structures and civil works.
• Build long-term supplier partnerships and negotiate framework agreements to improve commercial value, availability and delivery performance.
• Develop procurement governance, approval processes and reporting systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve procurement efficiency, transparency and cost control.

Strategic Sourcing, Tendering & Negotiation

• Lead RFQ and RFP processes for electrical equipment, materials, subcontractors and specialist services.
• Manage technical and commercial evaluations, supplier selection and contract awards.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, warranties, delivery schedules, liability provisions and contractual protections.
• Support bid and tender teams with supplier quotations, market intelligence, lead times and cost estimates.
• Ensure supplier and subcontract agreements align with relevant client contract obligations and project requirements.

Supply Chain & Delivery Management

• Monitor supplier performance, manufacturing progress and delivery schedules, particularly for long-lead electrical equipment.
• Coordinate factory acceptance testing (FAT), inspections and quality documentation with engineering and quality teams.
• Oversee logistics, freight, customs and delivery arrangements for projects across Northern Europe.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including extended lead times, supplier capacity constraints and market volatility.
• Manage supplier claims, non-conformances, warranty issues and commercial disputes through to resolution.

Supplier & Subcontractor Management

• Develop and maintain a qualified supplier and subcontractor network across the Nordic and wider European markets.
• Lead supplier prequalification and performance reviews covering quality, health and safety, financial stability, ESG and regulatory compliance.
• Establish effective supplier performance measures and drive continuous improvement in cost, quality and delivery.
• Ensure compliance with applicable procurement regulations, ethical sourcing requirements, sanctions and supply chain due diligence.
• Build strong working relationships with suppliers, subcontractors and internal stakeholders.

Team Leadership & Commercial Reporting

• Establish and develop the procurement function as the business grows, including the recruitment and management of buyers and expediters.
• Monitor procurement expenditure, cost savings, purchase commitments and budget performance alongside project management and finance teams.
• Report procurement KPIs, commercial risks, supplier performance and market developments to senior leadership.
• Maintain robust procurement records, contractual documentation and approval processes.
• Travel to suppliers, manufacturing facilities and project sites when required.

RequirementsExperience

• Minimum of 8 years' experience in procurement or supply chain management, including at least 3 years in a leadership or managerial position.
• Experience procuring electrical equipment, materials or subcontracted services for HV/MV substations, power transmission or energy infrastructure projects is highly desirable.
• Background working for an EPC contractor or within an engineering, construction or project-based environment.
• Proven track record negotiating high-value supply agreements, subcontract packages and strategic framework contracts.
• Experience developing procurement processes, supplier networks or teams within a growing organisation is advantageous.
• Demonstrable ability to manage commercial risk, control costs and improve supplier delivery performance.

Technical & Commercial Skills

• Strong understanding of strategic sourcing, category management and the full procure-to-pay cycle.
• Good knowledge of substation equipment, including power transformers, GIS/AIS switchgear, protection and control systems, and electrical cabling.
• Understanding of commercial and contractual terms, including Incoterms and relevant Nordic and international contract frameworks.
• Knowledge of supplier compliance, ESG, anti-bribery, sanctions and due diligence requirements.
• Strong analytical skills, including cost evaluation, total cost of ownership and supplier risk assessment.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; experience with ERP and procurement systems is beneficial.

Leadership & Communication

• Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management and supplier relationship skills.
• Strong commercial awareness, integrity and decision-making ability.
• Experience collaborating with engineering, project management, finance and bid teams.
• Excellent written and spoken English; Portuguese language skills are advantageous.
• A proactive, strategic approach with the ambition to build and lead a procurement function.

Location & Eligibility

• Based in or willing to relocate to Lisbon/Porto, Portugal.
• Must have the right to work within the EU/EEA.
• Willingness to travel to suppliers, manufacturing facilities and project sites in Norway, Finland and other European locations as required.

Performance Objectives

• Deliver measurable procurement savings against project and tender budgets.
• Secure timely delivery of critical and long-lead equipment.
• Develop a competitive, reliable and prequalified supplier network.
• Improve supplier performance across quality, delivery and safety.
• Establish scalable procurement processes, governance and reporting.
• Build a procurement function capable of supporting continued business growth.

What’s on Offer?

• Competitive salary and an attractive benefits package.
• A Lisbon-based position within a growing European energy infrastructure business.
• Strategic ownership of procurement across major HV substation and power infrastructure projects.
• The opportunity to influence procurement strategy, supplier partnerships and commercial performance.
• Scope to build and develop a procurement team and function.
• A clear potential career progression path towards Head of Procurement.
• Exposure to major EPC projects and an international supplier network.

Interested in This Opportunity?

If you are an experienced Procurement Manager with a background in electrical infrastructure, substations, power transmission or EPC projects, we would welcome a confidential conversation about this opportunity in Lisbon.

Apply today to explore your next career move.