Category Buyer-Emirati Nationals

Thales; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Thales in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Category Buyer to support procurement categories, manage RFIs/RFPs, and drive competitiveness within the supplier panel. The role collaborates with Global Category Managers and regional teams to implement category strategies and ensure efficient sourcing in a multinational environment.

The candidate will work with cross-functional teams, handle contract activities, and ensure governance and performance management aligned with Thales standards.

Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in Engineering or related field
• Experience in bids/project or procurement topics desirable
• English language fluency required; Arabic desirable

Responsibilities

• Provide operational support to ensure information for PO creation is complete and accurate
• Support procurement competitiveness through market monitoring and supplier insights
• Lead governance and performance management with KPIs and corrective actions
• Manage supplier acquisitions, ensure fair competitions and adherence to governance
• Lead contract activities with suppliers and ensure compliance with Thales rules
• Promote use of Thales e-Acquisition and procurement tools
• Identify suppliers needing development actions and support Supplier Development Team

Job description

Location: Abu Dhabi United Arab EmiratesIn 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 250000 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 Dhabis 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 CBs 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. CB role is accountable of the relationship with the panel of supplier within his/her perimeter.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• 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 preferredExperience/Diploma in Procurement desirableEnglish language fluency is requiredArabic 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 80000 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