Specialist – Strategic Procurement

The Sanad Group; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in strategic procurement is seeking a Specialist to manage vendor selection, negotiate contracts, and ensure compliance with procurement policies. The role requires a Bachelor's degree, experience in aviation procurement, and strong negotiation skills. You will work closely with stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of high-value goods and services while mentoring junior team members.

Qualifications

• 5 to 8 years of relevant experience in aviation procurement and supply chain.
• Experience in coaching or mentoring junior colleagues preferred.

Responsibilities

• Execute sourcing strategies for procurement demands.
• Negotiate pricing and service conditions with suppliers.
• Monitor vendor performance and ensure procurement compliance.

Skills

Effective Communication

Analytical Thinking

Market Research

Negotiation Skills

Accuracy & Attention to Detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration / Management

MCIPS certification

Tools

Microsoft Office Proficiency

ERP System Proficiency (Oracle cMRO)

Job description

JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY:

The Specialist – Strategic Procurement works closely with internal stakeholders to understand high-value procurement demands and execute sourcing strategies that ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, and timely delivery. The role encompasses vendor selection, negotiation, purchase order processing, and supplier performance monitoring. The Specialist also ensures compliance with procurement policies and may be assigned to support or mentor junior team members on daily tasks. The Specialist is also expected to track order progress, ensure system accuracy, and may provide guidance to junior colleagues on day-to-day tasks.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Demand Understanding & Strategic Sourcing

• Understand material or service requirements from internal requestors.
• For direct materials, ensure compliance with engine manual specifications and interchangeable parts.
• Source surplus or Serviceable Used Material (SUM) to maximize margins for third-party customer projects.
• For indirect purchases exceeding AED 500,000, run RFPs in line with the Purchasing Policy and Standard Process Manual.
• Analyze supplier markets, assess trends, and apply insights to make value-driven procurement decisions.

Purchase Order Processing

• Review and act on purchase requisitions (e.g., back orders, dispositions, PRs).
• Raise purchase orders and ensure they go through the necessary approval workflows.
• Track order placement and manufacturing status, if applicable.

Stakeholder Communication & Updates

• Attend coordination meetings with requestors and management.
• Provide timely updates on the status of requisitions, purchase orders, and supplier deliveries.

Supplier Relationship Management & Negotiation

• Build strong, reliable relationships with strategic suppliers.

• Negotiate pricing, delivery terms, and service conditions to optimize value and reduce risk.

Quality Assessment & Escalation

• Inspect quality of received goods.
• Flag and escalate discrepancies or non-conformance to suppliers and relevant internal stakeholders.

Vendor Research & Documentation

• Research new vendors, acquire required credentials, and input data into procurement systems.
• Track and ensure quality approvals are completed in a timely manner.
• Maintain complete documentation on vendor performance and quality history.

Other Duties

• Support other procurement initiatives and process improvements as required.

• Assist in mentoring junior procurement staff when assigned.

• Perform any additional tasks assigned by the line manager.

9. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES

Minimum Qualifications:

(Education/Certification/

Licensure/Professional

Membership)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration / Management, or related discipline is required.
• MCIPS certification (or equivalent professional procurement qualification) is preferred.

Minimum Experience:

• 5 to 8 years of relevant experience in aviation procurement and supply chain is required.
• Direct management of staff is not required; however, experience in coaching, mentoring, or guiding junior colleagues or peers will be considered an advantage.

Job Specific Competencies:

The Specialist is expected to demonstrate the following competencies essential for success in the role:

1. Effective Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills in English; ability to clearly present ideas, negotiate with suppliers, and coordinate with internal stakeholders.
2. Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze data, procurement trends, and inventory performance to support decision-making and planning accuracy.
3. Market Research: Skilled in researching suppliers, evaluating market trends, and assessing vendor capabilities to ensure value-driven sourcing.
4. Business Acumen: Strong understanding of business principles, cost-saving strategies, and value creation in procurement activities.
5. Negotiation Skills: Proven ability to negotiate effectively with suppliers to secure favorable terms and service levels.
6. Accuracy & Attention to Detail: Demonstrated ability to maintain high accuracy in data entry, document control, and system updates.
7. Supervisory Support: Capable of mentoring or overseeing day-to-day tasks of junior colleagues when assigned.
8. Microsoft Office Proficiency: Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is particularly important for data analysis, reporting, and tracking activities.
9. ERP System Proficiency: Mandatory working knowledge of Oracle cMRO; experience using ERP systems for procurement, planning, and tracking.