Category Buyer Emirati Nationals

Thales; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in technology solutions is seeking a Category Buyer in Abu Dhabi. This role requires a strong background in Electronics, with at least three years of engineering experience. Key responsibilities include sourcing and market monitoring, managing supplier performance, and ensuring compliance with governance processes. The ideal candidate will have expertise in negotiation and procurement strategies. Fluency in English is essential, and Arabic is a plus. Embrace a career with opportunities to grow within an internationally recognized company.

Qualifications

• 3 years experience in Engineering required.
• Experience in project design and product development is desirable.
• Demonstrable experience in procurement topics is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure BAs receive required information to raise Purchase Orders.
• Conduct market monitoring and sourcing activities.
• Apply appropriate governance using KPIs.
• Manage supplier performance and competitions.
• Lead contract activities with suppliers.

Skills

Engineering background in Electronics

Market survey and sourcing experience

Operational supply chain strategy

Contractual knowledge of framework agreements

Negotiation skills

Understanding of market and customer needs

Best practice acquisition process knowledge

English language fluency

Arabic language skills

Education

Diploma in Engineering Electronics

Job description

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In fast changing markets customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrows possible. Thales has built a presence in the United Arab Emirates for over 35 years and today has over 300 employees. Thales in the UAE is part of our Middle East business that has 1800 people across Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, KSA, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and UAE. Together we delivered technology for the Dubai metro, the longest driverless metro network in the world, and a fare collection system that processes up to 250,000 transactions per day. We make UAE a safer place by providing secure electronic payment solutions, cyber security systems and communications as well as security systems for Dubai International Airport and air traffic management and navigation systems for Abu Dhabi’s airport.

JOB OBJECTIVE

The Category Buyer (CB) supports one or several procurement categories. The CB works in close relation with the relevant Global Category Managers (GCM), the Category Manager (CM), and the Tactical Buyer (TB). All actions have to be in line with the strategy defined by the Global Category Manager and the regional CM. The CB’s prime role is the management of the RFI or/and RFPs until PVet 4 stage (up to PVet 5 based on some Regions) in order to bring competitiveness and performance to the business. The CB role is accountable for the relationship with the panel of suppliers within his/her perimeter.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to this their main tasks are:

• Operational Support: Ensure the BAs receive all required information to raise the Purchase Orders.
• Procurement Competitiveness Capture: Sourcing activities and market monitoring for defined categories including key players, newcomers, economic evolutions, market or regulation constraints, innovations and technology in order to support the development of the most up-to-date category strategies to the businesses. Based on the above provide insights as to how products/projects could be more competitive via the adoption of different suppliers/methodologies/technology etc.
• Governance Leadership and Performance Management: Ensure appropriate governance is applied using KPIs and root cause corrective actions.
• Supplier / Acquisition Management: Performance management of the supply base in line with the standards set out by the Global Category Manager. Ensure that supplier competitions follow the governance process and are balanced and fair in order to improve business and customer performance.
• Lead contract activities with supplier and ensure that compliance assessment of the supplier is matching Thales group rules: Ensure that global contracts / framework agreements are adopted and utilised. Ensure that Thales e‑Acquisition and all THALES procurement tools are fully used. Based on the performance management of the supply base identify the suppliers who require focused development actions and ensure that the Supplier Development Team have the required support / leverage in order for these actions to be successful.

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

3 years experience in Engineering. Experience working in project/program design / product development with cross‑functional teams. Demonstrable experience in bids/project or procurement topics (e.g. negotiation, supplier meetings, visits) is desirable.

QUALIFICATION CERTIFICATION & EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Diploma in Engineering Electronics field preferred. Experience/Diploma in Procurement desirable. English language fluency is required. Arabic language is desirable.

PREFERRED SKILLS

Hard Skills :

• Engineering background in Electronics and product/service associated knowledge to allow leverage in negotiation with supplier/good understanding of suppliers capabilities.
• Skills in the field of market survey / sourcing experience desired.
• Ability to implement operational supply chain strategy.
• Contractual knowledge especially of framework agreements Liability & insurance.
• Ability to lead negotiation including import / export considerations.
• Understanding of the market for the categories under his/her control but also ability to understand the customers needs and program issues.
• Good knowledge of a best practice acquisition Process.

Soft Skills :

• Capability to work within cross functional and international multi organizational teams (teamwork).
• Open minded (listen share ideas etc.) and able to bring added value and new ideas.
• Ability to take initiatives with a good capacity of analysis and of synthesis.
• Ability to prioritize tasks.
• Ability to represent Thales and to demonstrate Thales values.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Great journeys start here apply now!