Senior Procurement Business Partner

Job Description:

Company Description

We Dream. We Do. We Deliver.

At Merkle, a dentsu company, we power the experience economy. Whether we’re building the next great app, running CRM at scale for global brands, delivering technology architectures that support millions of users, or providing world-class data, identity, and insights solutions, it’s all in the name of crafting experiences that set brands apart from the competition. Backed by dentsu's legacy of innovation and creativity originating in Japan, we’ve spent over 35 years helping brands build loyalty, drive growth, and connect meaningfully with their audiences.

We’ve been named a global “Leader” by top industry analyst firms in categories as wide-ranging as digital transformation and commerce, experience design, engineering and technology integration, digital marketing, data science, CRM and loyalty, and customer data management.

Why choose Merkle?

Innovation at Our Core: As part of dentsu’s global network, Merkle pushes the boundaries of customer experience, integrating creativity, technology, and data to drive real-world impact. For over 35 years, we’ve been innovating to meet the changing needs of our clients.

Global Reach with Local Expertise: With over 16,000 employees across 30+ countries, and part of a 70,000 employees’ network at dentsu, Merkle blends global insights with a deep understanding of local markets to deliver personalized, effective solutions.

Collaborative Culture: At Merkle, your ideas and contributions truly matter. You’ll join a team that fosters innovation, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Together, we work on impactful international projects, making meaningful connections every step of the way.

Job Description

We are looking for a Senior Procurement Business Partner, focus in Technology to lead strategic sourcing and procurement activities across our Technology category portfolio. This role will partner closely with IT, Finance, Legal, Security and business stakeholders to drive value, manage supplier relationships, optimize spend and ensure strong procurement governance.

You will combine commercial expertise, analytical thinking and project management skills to support business growth, transformation and innovation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, from demand planning to contract execution and supplier management.

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for Technology categories, including Software, SaaS, Cloud, Infrastructure, Cybersecurity and Technology Services.

• Conduct spend analysis and identify cost optimization and value creation opportunities.

• Lead supplier negotiations and contract management activities.

• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and act as a trusted procurement advisor.

• Drive procurement governance, compliance and risk management initiatives.

• Deliver market intelligence, supplier benchmarking and business insights.

• Support procurement transformation, process improvement and digitalization projects.

• Create dashboards, reports and analytics to support data-driven decision making.

What we're looking for:

• 8+ years of procurement or strategic sourcing experience, with a strong focus on Technology categories.

• Fluent German and English.

• Proven experience managing complex supplier negotiations and contracts.

• Strong stakeholder management and business partnering skills.

• Experience in spend analytics, reporting and data-driven decision making.

• Project management experience, including cross-functional initiatives.

• Good understanding of financial concepts such as budgeting, forecasting, business cases and cost analysis.

• Knowledge of procurement tools, contract management systems and analytics platforms.

*Work visa sponsorship is not available. For local documentation (NIF, NISS), please consult Portuguese authorities.

Additional Information

Benefits and perks:

• 25 vacation days

• Enjoy 2 additional volunteering days to support your passion project

• Mental Health: Benefit from 3 extra wellness days on top of your vacation days and a Mental Health First Aider and Employee Assisstance program to support your well-being

• Health insurance (also possible for family members)

• Cutting Edge Technology & Latest IT tools

• Software-house environment

• Agile and Flexible working hours

• Hybrid working: we combine flexibility with in-person collaboration, with an expectation of 1 day per week/ 4 days per month in the office

• Digital nomad policy

• Focus on career development

• Full access to Dentsu Academy, our global online learning platform

• Beers, foosball, and ping-pong! #workhardplayhard

• Free breakfast every second Wednesday of the month

• Employee discounts

• Team & Company events

• Referral bonus program

*At dentsu, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is central to our vision: "To be at the forefront of people-centered transformations that shape society."

We cherish the unique talents and perspectives of all individuals, welcoming applicants regardless of gender, gender identity, nationality, religion, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental ability. By embracing diverse perspectives, we create meaningful change and sustainable growth for our people, clients, and society. Our hiring decisions are guided by qualifications and role-specific requirements, ensuring a workplace free from discrimination and harassment.

#LI-Hybrid #LI-MERKLE

Location: Lisbon

Brand: Dentsu

Time Type: Full time

Contract Type: Permanent