Ernst Rietmeijer
Independent Contracting & Procurement Advisor. Founder of Rietmeijer Contracting Advisory.
More than 30 years in industrial contracting and procurement have not made complex projects any less interesting to me. If anything, they matter more.
What continues to engage me is the work at the heart of a project: setting the contract strategy, shaping contracts that hold up in practice and leading a tender from market approach to award. Each project combines scope, risk and people in a different way, and getting that combination right is where experience makes the difference.
Over the years I have also coached many colleagues in these disciplines. That showed me how much an organisation gains when knowledge is transferred deliberately: through training, individual advice or structured sparring with a team facing a critical decision.
I therefore work in two ways: as interim contract or procurement manager within project and asset teams, and as trainer and sounding board for organisations that want to strengthen their own contracting capability.
Clarity, structure and independent judgement, applied where contractual choices shape the outcome.
More Than 30 Years in Industrial Contracting and Procurement
From engineering and contracting through power generation, petrochemicals and tank storage to renewables and circular projects.
Director Contracts & Procurement; independent advisor and interim rolesAs Director Contracts & Procurement for an industrial innovation hub: setting up the contractual framework, governance and processes that allow start-ups and scale-ups to run pilot and demonstration projects. Also contract strategy, tendering and contractor engagement for a first-of-a-kind circular plant
Purchasing ManagerContracting strategies and contract management, including changes and claims, for capex projects at Dutch tank terminals; MRO strategies and performance-based contracts; contractor and supplier management
Senior BuyerMRO contracting for multiple production sites; tender and contracts for a mechanical turnaround
Senior BuyerProcurement and contracting for daily maintenance and turnarounds of a power plant
Interim Purchasing ManagerProcurement for an international refinery and petrochemical revamp; restructuring of purchasing processes
Contract Specialist, BuyerContracting for a tank terminal extension; procurement for a petrochemical revamp
How I Work
Independent Perspective
I work without ties to suppliers or contractors, so my commercial view is focused solely on your interests.
Structured Decision-Making
I quickly structure commercial risk and decision-making, rather than starting from a blank slate.
Practical Implementation
I combine strategic advice with hands-on involvement in tendering, negotiations and execution.
Recommendations
“He brings all the skills that you need to the table: knowledge, negotiation skills and pragmatism. Moreover he has extensive network in the project execution market in The Netherlands.”
“Ernst’s contribution as procurement manager was critical to the success of the project. He combines strategic procurement expertise with a practical, hands-on approach, ensuring cost optimization and strong partnerships with local suppliers.”
“Ernst is a great professional to work with, skilled in the art of Contracting & Procurement but most of all energetic, pragmatic and service-oriented. He listens well to understand requirements vs. wishes, probes deep to uncover what was previously unknown and works hard to get it sharp in writing.”
Excerpts from recommendations on LinkedIn.
Get in Touch
A first conversation is usually enough to frame the issue and agree whether, and how, I can help. See Interim Support and Training & Guidance for the ways I work.
Contact Me