Category Manager - Strategic Procurement

ADNOC Abu Dhabi UAE; Al Ruways Industrial City; On-site; AED 390,600 - 558,000; Full time

Job summary

ADNOC Group in Abu Dhabi Emirate seeks a seasoned Category Manager - Strategic Procurement to lead end-to-end category management across ADNOC Group. You will drive category strategies, supplier governance, and savings initiatives while coordinating cross-functional teams in a rapidly changing market.

The role emphasizes ownership of strategic sourcing, tendering, and contract management, with a focus on ESG, sustainability, and In-Country Value across high‑value expenditures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or equivalent.
• Minimum 10 years of procurement experience.
• At least 7 years in category management.
• CIPS certification desirable; oil and gas procurement experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Integrated Category Management Teams across ADNOC Group, coordinating 10–30 members.
• Develop category strategies to generate savings, reduce supply risk, and improve performance.
• Apply strategic procurement tools (Kraljic Matrix, Porter’s Five Forces, Purchasing Chessboard).
• Define tendering and contract strategies, including framework agreements and long-term contracts.
• Manage supplier performance, governance, and in-country value considerations across categories.
• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, ethical standards, and ESG requirements.

Skills

Category management

Strategic procurement

Strategic sourcing

Oil and gas procurement

Spend analysis

Total Cost of Ownership

Market intelligence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or equivalent

Job description

Category Manager - Strategic Procurement

Job Snapshot: Role: Category Manager - Strategic Procurement. Location: Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates. Industry: Oil and Energy. Function: Purchasing. Experience: Minimum 10 years in procurement, including 7 years in category management. Job Type: Full-time.

Job Details: Country: United Arab Emirates. City: Abu Dhabi Emirate. Salary: 35000-50000 estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the city; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any. Candidate Nationality: Any. Job Type: Full-time.

Context: The Category Manager will manage day‑to‑day category activities while supporting a consistent end‑to‑end category management approach across ADNOC Group.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy and Planning

• Implement the approved category management approach for assigned strategic and business‑critical categories.
• Establish and lead Integrated Category Management Teams involving technical and procurement representatives from ADNOC Group companies.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams of approximately 10 to 30 members depending on category scope and complexity.
• Develop category strategies that generate financial savings, reduce supply risk, and improve operational performance.
• Obtain agreement from relevant stakeholders before implementing sourcing and contracting strategies.
• Support the prioritisation of common categories across ADNOC Group.
• Analyse historical expenditure, pricing structures, forecast demand, inventory levels, and consumption patterns.
• Help maintain the ADNOC category spend map and associated procurement intelligence.
• Contribute to 12‑month and five‑year sector strategies aligned with approved business plans.
• Coordinate with ADNOC planning teams and Group companies to validate future requirements.
• Lead product segmentation, specification simplification, and technical standardisation initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to consolidate demand and reduce unnecessary product or service variation.
• Incorporate ESG, sustainability, supply resilience, and operational requirements into category strategies.

Market and Commercial Analysis

• Work with Market Intelligence teams to assess supplier markets, cost drivers, pricing trends, competition, capacity, and emerging risks.
• Develop supplier profiles and evaluate market attractiveness and supply complexity.
• Apply strategic procurement tools including the Kraljic Matrix, Porter’s Five Forces, and Purchasing Chessboard.
• Identify sourcing levers such as specification rationalisation, standardisation, substitution, volume bundling, and process efficiency.
• Develop cost models and use market conditions to identify negotiation opportunities.
• Benchmark category expenditure, supplier performance, commercial terms, and procurement practices against industry standards.
• Evaluate category strategy options and determine their feasibility, risks, value potential, and implementation requirements.
• Identify savings opportunities and establish measurable benefit‑delivery plans.
• Adapt category strategies in response to market changes, supply constraints, new business opportunities, and cost pressures.

Strategic Sourcing and Tendering

• Select suitable contracting strategies including competitive tenders, framework agreements, long‑term contracts, and strategic partnerships.
• Support procurement teams in identifying and assessing potential bidders.
• Define technical and commercial evaluation criteria with appropriate stakeholders.
• Include Total Cost of Ownership and In‑Country Value requirements in sourcing evaluations.
• Ensure tender documents align with approved category strategies.
• Review technical, commercial, contractual, legal, and evaluation requirements before tender release.
• Support Strategic Sourcing teams in conducting compliant and commercially effective tendering processes.
• Ensure procurement activity follows company policies, approved procedures, and Tender Board recommendations.
• Drive technical and commercial evaluations according to agreed schedules.
• Coordinate the timely closure of bidder clarifications with technical stakeholders.
• Review commercial bids, benchmark pricing, and analyse relative competitiveness.
• Develop negotiation strategies for individual bidders.
• Jointly lead commercial negotiations with suppliers and contractors.
• Support the preparation of bidder recommendations, award submissions, amendments, and variations.
• Align stakeholders before presenting award recommendations to steering committees, management, and Tender Boards.
• Ensure technical evaluation documentation is updated and properly maintained.

Contract and Framework Management

• Support procurement teams in developing framework agreements in accordance with company procedures.
• Advise on category‑specific contractual terms, conditions, controls, and performance requirements.
• Include measurable category KPIs that support supplier accountability.
• Develop framework agreement implementation plans for ADNOC Group companies.
• Ensure framework agreements and work orders are issued within agreed timelines.
• Support stakeholders in reviewing change orders, commercial claims, and contract variations.
• Provide recommendations that protect ADNOC’s contractual and commercial interests.
• Advise end users throughout contract development, award, mobilisation, execution, and closeout.
• Monitor the implementation of work orders across Group companies.
• Build effective contract‑management relationships with procurement teams, end users, and suppliers.
• Encourage transparent, ethical, and fair access to business opportunities for local suppliers.

Supplier Management

• Manage strategic supplier relationships within assigned categories.
• Develop supplier management plans and obtain senior management approval.
• Prepare and coordinate supplier performance review meetings.
• Establish reporting arrangements that provide timely supplier KPI data.
• Work with Integrated Category Management Teams and supplier performance specialists to monitor results.
• Assess supplier delivery, quality, cost, responsiveness, innovation, compliance, and contractual performance.
• Coordinate corrective actions where suppliers do not meet agreed requirements.
• Identify incremental value opportunities throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Strengthen supplier collaboration while maintaining commercial discipline and performance accountability.
• Support supply continuity, risk mitigation, and operational reliability across assigned categories.

Value Delivery and Procurement Excellence

• Improve inventory levels, service levels, and supply efficiency across ADNOC Group.
• Drive consistency in category management processes and sourcing practices.
• Use Group scale to improve quality, delivery performance, commercial terms, and cost optimisation.
• Promote procurement excellence and a culture of measurable value creation.
• Track category savings, cost avoidance, supplier benefits, and implementation progress.
• Provide guidance to Integrated Category Management Teams to maintain focus on agreed objectives.
• Set category goals, monitor progress, and implement corrective actions where performance falls behind plan.
• Conduct peer reviews and share category management best practices.
• Develop the category management capability of procurement and technical team members.
• Support knowledge transfer across Group companies and procurement functions.
• Encourage evidence‑based decisions at all organisational levels.

In‑Country Value and Sustainability

• Work with the In‑Country Value team to identify and deliver ICV opportunities.
• Include local content considerations in category strategies, tender evaluations, and supplier plans.
• Support supplier‑development opportunities that strengthen the UAE business community.
• Incorporate environmental, social, and sustainability objectives into procurement decisions.
• Balance commercial value with operational quality, supply security, and responsible sourcing requirements.

Governance and Reporting

• Ensure assigned procurement activities comply with policies, processes, standards, and delegated authorities.
• Maintain complete category records, evaluation files, approvals, strategy documents, and commercial analyses.
• Support preparation of departmental budgets and approved work plans.
• Monitor expenditure and highlight significant budget or performance variances.
• Contribute to functional performance objectives under the company performance framework.
• Develop tools and techniques that improve procurement quality, efficiency, and transparency.
• Identify process improvements by comparing current practices with recognised industry standards.
• Prepare management information, progress reports, category dashboards, and executive presentations.
• Maintain compliance with HSE, sustainability, ethics, and ADNOC Code of Practices requirements.

Team Leadership

• Plan, supervise, and coordinate activities within the assigned category area.
• Lead multicultural and cross‑functional teams across multiple ADNOC entities.
• Train and develop assigned employees in strategic sourcing and category management techniques.
• Establish clear responsibilities, milestones, and performance expectations.
• Encourage collaboration between technical, procurement, finance, legal, planning, and operational teams.
• Promote accountability, commercial awareness, and operational excellence.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or an equivalent discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant procurement experience.
• At least 7 years of direct experience in category management.
• Previous oil and gas procurement experience is strongly preferred.
• CIPS certification is desirable.
• Proven experience developing and implementing category strategies for high‑value expenditure.
• Strong understanding of strategic sourcing, tendering, commercial evaluation, and contract management.
• Experience managing framework agreements and supplier‑performance programs.
• Advanced spend analysis, cost modelling, benchmarking, and market‑intelligence capability.
• Knowledge of the Kraljic Matrix, Porter’s Five Forces, Purchasing Chessboard, and strategic sourcing levers.
• Ability to evaluate Total Cost of Ownership, In‑Country Value, ESG, and sustainability considerations.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation capability.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary category teams in a multicultural environment.
• Strong project‑management and implementation skills.
• Ability to work autonomously while coordinating across multiple companies and functions.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, persuasion, and stakeholder‑management ability.
• Confidence presenting strategies and recommendations to senior management, steering committees, and Tender Boards.
• Strong understanding of procurement governance, ethics, transparency, and commercial controls.
• Ability to adapt strategies to changing markets, supply risks, and operational requirements.

Skills Set

• Category management
• Strategic procurement
• Strategic sourcing
• Oil and gas procurement
• Spend analysis
• Demand forecasting
• Inventory analysis
• Market intelligence
• Supplier analysis
• Cost modelling
• Commercial evaluation
• Total Cost of Ownership
• In‑Country Value
• ESG procurement
• Sustainable sourcing
• Kraljic Matrix
• Porter’s Five Forces
• Purchasing Chessboard
• Specification rationalisation
• Product standardisation
• Volume bundling
• Tender management
• Bid evaluation
• Commercial negotiation
• Framework agreements
• Contract management
• Change orders
• Claims evaluation
• Supplier relationship management
• Supplier performance
• Procurement governance
• Tender Board submissions
• Category savings
• Cost optimisation
• Project management
• Cross‑functional leadership
• CIPS

Why Join Us

This opportunity provides responsibility for strategic procurement categories that directly affect ADNOC Group’s operating performance, supply security, capital efficiency, and third‑party expenditure. The Category Manager will influence sourcing decisions across multiple Group companies while working with senior technical, commercial, operational, and procurement stakeholders. The role offers exposure to large‑scale category portfolios, complex supplier markets, long‑term framework agreements, and procurement transformation initiatives. It is well suited to an experienced category professional seeking strategic influence, measurable value‑delivery responsibility, leadership exposure, and long‑term career development within Abu Dhabi’s Oil and Energy sector.

About the Company

ADNOC Group is an integrated energy organisation headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Its operations cover exploration, production, processing, refining, petrochemicals, logistics, distribution, and major energy infrastructure. The organisation manages substantial procurement and supply‑chain activity across its Group companies. Its category management approach combines strategic sourcing, commercial governance, supplier development, market intelligence, sustainability, and In‑Country Value to support reliable operations and long‑term business performance.