Team Lead - Operational Purchasing

Sanad Aero Solutions Gmbh.; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 240,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanad Aerotech in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, seeks a Team Lead – Gate 2 (Operational Purchasing) to drive sourcing of materials and services for aviation and aero-engine MRO operations, ensuring timely, compliant procurement and cost‑effective delivery. You will lead purchasing activities, manage supplier relations, and collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Quality and Finance.

A related bachelor’s degree plus 7+ years in purchasing (3+ in aviation) are required, with strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 7+ years in operational purchasing or supply chain roles.
• 3+ years in aviation, aerospace or regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily purchasing activities, prioritize and assign work, monitor progress, provide technical guidance, and act as escalation point for supply issues.
• Develop sourcing strategies for complex materials and services, conduct market analysis, lead competitive sourcing, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Oversee requisitions and purchase orders from initiation through delivery, track supplier performance, expedite shipments, and manage order changes.
• Build and maintain supplier partnerships, lead commercial negotiations, resolve disputes, and monitor supplier performance against service levels.
• Serve as key contact for internal stakeholders, provide purchasing status updates, prepare management reports, and elevate critical risks.
• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, regulatory and quality standards, manage supplier approvals, investigate discrepancies, and support audits.
• Coach and mentor team members, review complex purchasing cases, promote best practice, and support capability development and performance management.
• Identify process improvements, support system enhancements, monitor performance indicators, and participate in cross-functional projects.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Engineering, Aviation Management, or related fields

Job description

SANAD1145 - Team Lead - Operational Purchasing

Company:

Sanad Aerotech

Department:

Operations

Section:

Gate 2

Sub-Section:

Operational Purchasing

Location:

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Closing Date:

16-Oct-2026

About the Role

The Team Leader – Gate 2 (Operational Purchasing) plays a critical role in leading and coordinating purchasing activities to ensure timely, compliant, and commercially effective sourcing of materials, components, equipment, and services essential to aviation and aero-engine MRO operations. This position manages complex, high-value purchasing requirements, develops sourcing strategies, leads supplier negotiations, and resolves supply-chain challenges impacting operational delivery and customer commitments. The role collaborates closely with cross-functional teams including Operations, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Logistics, and Commercial to balance cost, quality, compliance, and delivery objectives. Depending on organizational structure, the Team Leader may provide direct supervision, performance management, and mentoring to purchasing personnel or act as a senior individual contributor offering functional leadership and technical guidance. Additionally, the role supports management through reporting, supplier performance analysis, risk escalation, and continuous process improvement initiatives.

Your Responsibilities

• Operational Purchasing Leadership and Coordination: Lead daily purchasing activities, prioritize and assign work, monitor progress, provide technical guidance, and act as escalation point for supply issues.
• Strategic Sourcing and Market Analysis: Develop sourcing strategies for complex materials and services, conduct market analysis, lead competitive sourcing, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Purchase Requisition and Order Management: Oversee requisitions and purchase orders from initiation through delivery, track supplier performance, expedite shipments, and manage order changes.
• Supplier Relationship and Negotiation: Build and maintain supplier partnerships, lead commercial negotiations, resolve disputes, and monitor supplier performance against service levels.
• Stakeholder Management and Reporting: Serve as key contact for internal stakeholders, provide purchasing status updates, prepare management reports, and elevate critical risks.
• Quality, Compliance, and Risk Management: Ensure adherence to procurement policies, regulatory and quality standards, manage supplier approvals, investigate discrepancies, and support audits.
• Team Leadership and Development: Coach and mentor team members, review complex purchasing cases, promote best practice, and support capability development and performance management.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify process improvements, support system enhancements, monitor performance indicators, and participate in cross-functional projects.
• Other Duties: Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support business continuity and organizational priorities.

Who we are looking for

We seek a highly experienced professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Engineering, Aviation Management, or related fields. Professional certification from recognized bodies such as CIPS or ASCM is preferred. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 7 years’ progressive experience in operational purchasing or supply chain roles, with at least 3 years in aviation, aerospace, or similarly regulated technical environments. Demonstrated expertise in managing complex and high-value purchasing requirements, supplier negotiation, sourcing, and order management is essential. Strong leadership abilities to coach, mentor, and manage teams are important, along with proficiency in procurement and enterprise resource planning systems. The candidate must have advanced competencies in operational purchasing leadership, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, commercial negotiation, regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, problem-solving, data analysis, and continuous improvement. Training or knowledge of aviation regulatory requirements and commercial negotiation is an advantage.

Additional Information for Internal Employees

Internal candidates are encouraged to consider the significant impact this role has on supporting operational delivery and customer commitments within the Gate 2 Operational Purchasing function. The position requires strong cross-functional collaboration and offers exposure to various stakeholders including Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Supply Chain teams. Successful incumbents will contribute to risk mitigation, compliance adherence, and supplier performance enhancement, while driving continuous process improvements. The role demands high levels of accountability, ethical conduct, and professionalism consistent with organizational standards. Interested internal employees should possess relevant qualifications, demonstrated leadership capabilities, and a commitment to operational excellence in a technical and regulated environment.