ISP Divisional Procurement Lead – Middle East & Asia

International Schools Partnership; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

International Schools Partnership (ISP) is seeking a Divisional Procurement Lead for the Middle East & Asia to drive procurement across the division, owning Facilities Management and related services. You will partner with senior stakeholders, develop regional category strategies and ensure alignment with global procurement priorities.

The role covers strategic sourcing, governance, supplier performance, cost optimisation and risk management, and supports new school openings and capital

Qualifications

• Strategic procurement partner balancing stakeholder priorities with governance outcomes.
• Extensive procurement experience within multinational organisations.
• Strong indirect procurement with FM, Property, Construction exposure desirable.
• Experience supporting capital projects or procurement programmes desirable.
• Executive stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Business partnering and stakeholder engagement across decentralised organisations.

Responsibilities

• Provide regional procurement support across indirect categories in line with divisional requirements.
• Act as senior procurement business partner for the division.
• Build trusted relationships with executives and school operators.
• Develop divisional procurement plans.
• Lead global category strategies across Facilities Management and related services.
• Deliver measurable savings, cost avoidance, value creation and operational improvements.
• Lead supplier relationship management and governance.

Skills

Strategic procurement

Executive stakeholder management

Relationship building

Decentralised organisations

Education

MCIPS or FCIPS

Job description

Job Description

ISP Divisional Procurement Lead – Middle East & Asia

Purpose of Role

Lead procurement across an ISP division across a variety of spend areas, while owning the Facilities, Real Estate & Construction category strategy. The role combines regional procurement leadership, stakeholder partnership and operational support with global category management responsibility for Facilities Management and related professional services. The role drives value, governance, supplier performance, risk management and stakeholder satisfaction while ensuring divisional requirements are effectively represented in wider procurement strategies.

ISP Divisional Procurement Lead Key Responsibilities

Divisional Procurement Leadership

• Provide regional procurement support across a broad range of indirect categories in line with divisional requirements
• Act as senior procurement business partner for the division.
• Build trusted relationships with executives and school operators.
• Develop divisional procurement plans.
• Support Regional Procurement Leads and procurement transformation.
• Manage supplier escalations, compliance and risk.

Indirects Category Leadership including Facilities, Real Estate & Construction

• Own global category strategies across Facilities Management, Hard FM, Soft FM, Cleaning, Security, Catering, Utilities, Property Services, Real Estate, Capital Projects, Construction and Consultancy Services.
• Develop multi-year category strategies aligned to ISP growth, acquisitions and operational requirements.
• Lead complex sourcing programmes, negotiations and contracting initiatives.
• Deliver measurable savings, cost avoidance, value creation and operational improvements.
• Support procurement associated with new school openings, expansions and refurbishment programmes.
• Lead executive-level supplier relationship management and governance.
• Partner with Property, Finance, Legal and Operations leaders.
• Drive demand management, sustainability and whole-life cost optimisation.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated ability to operate as a strategic procurement business partner, balancing stakeholder priorities with commercial, risk and governance outcomes.
• Extensive procurement experience within multinational organisations.
• Strong indirect procurement experience with exposure to FM, Property, Construction or Capital Projects desirable.
• Experience supporting capital projects, operational services or business-critical procurement programmes desirable.
• Executive stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Strong business partnering, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills across complex, decentralised organisations.
• MCIPS, FCIPS or equivalent preferred.

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students

Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding

and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect

We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.

Operate effectively.

We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Are financially responsible.

We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.

Learn continuously.

Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.