Procurement Manager

Confidential; Kuwait City; On-site; KWD 6,000 - 9,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential in Kuwait seeks an experienced Procurement Manager - Direct to lead sourcing for direct categories such as food, beverages, and packaging. You will negotiate contracts, manage suppliers, and align procurement with menu innovation and operational excellence.

Responsibilities include market monitoring, spend analysis, risk mitigation, and cross-functional collaboration with Culinary, Operations, Finance, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to ensure timely availability and cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or International Trade is preferred.
• Advanced qualifications in Procurement, Supply Chain, or Business Management are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for direct categories (food, beverages, packaging) aligned with cost targets.
• Negotiate contracts and commercial agreements to achieve optimal cost savings and favorable terms.
• Manage supplier relationships to ensure quality, reliability, compliance and continuous improvement.
• Monitor market trends, commodity pricing, and supply risks to support proactive decisions.
• Ensure timely material availability through effective PO management, lead times and supplier performance.
• Drive cost optimization initiatives without compromising quality or service.
• Partner with Culinary, Operations, Finance, Quality and Supply Chain teams for menu innovation and new product launches.
• Maintain procurement data, reporting, spend analysis, forecasting and audit readiness.
• Implement risk mitigation strategies to strengthen continuity and resilience.
• Lead continuous improvement of procurement processes and supplier performance.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Contract negotiation

Supplier management

Spend analysis

ERP experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Job Purpose:

The Procurement Manager - Direct is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for direct materials, including food, beverage, and packaging categories, to ensure cost efficiency, quality, and timely availability across business operations. The role drives supplier relationship management, contract negotiations, and compliance with company standards while supporting menu innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth. Through market intelligence and strategic sourcing initiatives, the Procurement Manager delivers value to internal stakeholders and customers while mitigating supply chain risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for direct categories, including food, beverages, and packaging, aligned with business objectives and cost targets.
• Negotiate contracts and commercial agreements to achieve optimal cost savings and favorable terms.
• Manage supplier relationships to ensure quality, reliability, compliance, and continuous performance improvement.
• Monitor market trends, commodity pricing, and supply risks to support proactive decision-making.
• Ensure timely material availability through effective management of purchase orders, lead times, and supplier performance.
• Drive cost optimization initiatives without compromising quality, service, or operational requirements.
• Partner with Culinary, Operations, Finance, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to support menu innovation and new product launches.
• Maintain accurate procurement data, reporting, spend analysis, forecasting, and audit readiness.
• Implement risk mitigation strategies to strengthen business continuity and supply chain resilience.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance procurement processes and supplier performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or International Trade is preferred.
• Advanced qualifications in Procurement, Supply Chain, or Business Management are advantageous.

Experience

• 8+ years of procurement and sourcing experience within Food & Beverage, Restaurant, FMCG, or Consumer Goods industries.
• Proven experience managing food, beverage, packaging, and related spend categories.
• Strong expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and contract management.
• Experience managing supplier relationships across local and international markets.
• Demonstrated success in cost optimization, budgeting, and procurement savings initiatives.
• Experience using ERP and procurement platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or similar systems.
• Exposure to international trade, imports, and end-to-end supply chain operations.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and stakeholder engagement.
• Good understanding of food safety standards, procurement governance, compliance, and quality requirements.

Competencies

• Commercial Acumen
• Negotiation & Influencing Skills
• Analytical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
• Customer Focus
• Change Agility
• Compliance & Ethics

Personal Attributes

• Integrity
• Resilience
• Proactive Mindset
• Attention to Detail
• Relationship Building
• Results Orientation
• Accountability