Chief Procurement Officer CPO

UnfoldHR; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

UnfoldHR is seeking a Chief Procurement Officer to lead a globally dispersed procurement function. The role focuses on shaping and executing a comprehensive procurement strategy across multiple geographies, aligning with corporate objectives and growth plans.

You will drive strategic sourcing, supplier relationships, and digital procurement transformations while ensuring governance, risk management and sustainable value creation across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management or related discipline required.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive procurement and strategic sourcing experience, with senior leadership exposure.
• Experience leading procurement across international or multi-country operations.
• Strong experience in strategic sourcing, category management, supplier negotiations and contract management.
• Experience delivering measurable cost savings and procurement efficiencies.
• Experience in agriculture, FMCG, manufacturing or asset-intensive industries advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the organisation's global procurement strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Lead strategic sourcing and procurement across geographies and business units.
• Establish centralised procurement frameworks with coordination with regional and local operations.
• Negotiate major commercial agreements, framework contracts and long-term supply arrangements.
• Drive procurement savings, cost optimization and working capital improvements.
• Oversee procurement governance, risk management and compliance.

Skills

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Commercial acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management or related field

Master's degree or MBA (preferred)

Job description

Job Description:

About The Job Chief Procurement Officer (CPO)

Key Responsibilities

• Global Procurement Strategy
• Develop and implement the organisation's global procurement strategy aligned with overall business objectives.
• Lead strategic sourcing and procurement activities across multiple geographies and business units.
• Establish centralised procurement frameworks while ensuring effective coordination with regional and local operations.
• Identify opportunities for procurement optimisation, cost reduction and value creation.
• Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives across direct and indirect procurement categories.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers, vendors and international partners.
• Negotiate major commercial agreements, framework contracts and long-term supply arrangements.
• Establish supplier evaluation, performance monitoring and risk management frameworks.
• Ensure supply continuity, quality, competitiveness and operational reliability.
• Commercial & Financial Management
• Drive procurement savings, cost optimisation and working capital improvements.
• Establish category management strategies and strategic spend management processes.
• Oversee procurement budgets, financial controls and commercial negotiations.
• Monitor procurement performance through measurable KPIs and reporting mechanisms.
• Ensure procurement decisions deliver sustainable commercial value.
• Procurement Governance & Risk Management
• Establish and strengthen procurement policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Ensure transparency, accountability and compliance with internal controls.
• Oversee contract management, tendering processes and procurement approvals.
• Identify and mitigate supplier, market, geopolitical and supply chain risks.
• Promote ethical sourcing and sustainable procurement practices.
• Operational & Cross-Functional Leadership
• Work closely with business leadership, finance, operations, farming, logistics and other functional heads.
• Ensure procurement strategies support operational requirements across international business units.
• Drive coordination between central procurement and regional operating teams.
• Support strategic business expansion, operational transformation and new investment initiatives.
• Digital Procurement & Transformation
• Lead procurement transformation initiatives through digitalisation, automation and data analytics.
• Strengthen procurement systems, spend visibility and performance reporting.
• Introduce best practices in category management, supplier intelligence and strategic sourcing.
• Leadership & Team Development
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing global procurement organisation.
• Establish clear performance objectives and accountability across procurement teams.
• Develop procurement talent, succession pipelines and organisational capabilities.
• Foster a culture of commercial excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Finance, Engineering or a related discipline. A relevant Master's degree or MBA is preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive procurement and strategic sourcing experience, with significant exposure to senior leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading procurement functions across international or multi-country operations.
• Strong experience in strategic sourcing, category management, supplier negotiations and commercial contract management.
• Experience managing complex procurement portfolios and significant expenditure.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable cost savings, procurement efficiencies and operational improvements.
• Experience in agriculture, agribusiness, food production, FMCG, manufacturing or other asset-intensive industries would be advantageous.
• Strong understanding of international supply markets, commodity procurement and supply chain dynamics.
• Experience in procurement governance, risk management and digital procurement transformation.
• Strategic and commercial acumen.
• Strong negotiation and influencing capabilities.
• Global stakeholder and supplier relationship management.
• Analytical and data-driven decision-making.
• Change management and transformation leadership.
• Strong communication and executive-level presentation skills.
• Ability to operate effectively across diverse cultural and geographical environments.

All applications and discussions will be treated with strict confidentiality.