Manager - Strategic Procurement

The organization is a flagship gigaproject under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, aiming to create a world-class entertainment, cultural and lifestyle destination. As a multibillion-dollar project, it will encompass vast infrastructure development, hospitality, retail and service sectors, requiring robust strategic procurement management.

The Manager will manage activities for development and execution of procurement strategies across key categories such as building materials, design consultants, contractor services, FF&E, OS&E, etc., ensuring alignment with the gigaproject's strategic goals. This role is pivotal in aligning category strategies with business objectives and ensuring strategic and operational procurement excellence across critical categories. The Manager will work cross-functionally with development & procurement teams for strategic procurement planning, supplier relationship management, and operational execution for assigned categories.

1. Category Strategy Development

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned with the gigaproject's procurement objectives, focusing on cost optimization, quality, supply security, and supplier performance.
• Analyse & recommend appropriate levers across categories to extract maximum value from the procurement spend, including non-commercial levers such as specification improvement, partnerships, etc., identifying opportunities for strategic sourcing, supplier consolidation, volume purchasing and value engineering.
• Conduct market analyses to identify trends, cost-saving opportunities, and strategic negotiation levers.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to conduct category demand analyses and ensure category plans meet project and operational needs.
• Manage relationships with critical suppliers, ensuring alignment with gigaproject's strategic goals.
• Develop long-term framework agreements with suppliers to secure favorable terms.
• Develop supplier performance monitoring frameworks and ensure adherence to quality and delivery standards.

2. Operational Excellence

• Provide support to Business Unit (BU) procurement teams on operational procurement needs.
• Track and report on category performance metrics, identifying areas for improvement.
• Oversee the working teams for the development and execution of category strategies.

3. Stakeholder Collaboration

• Engage cross-functional teams in category risk management, creating mitigation strategies for supply chain risks, such as geopolitical factors and market volatility.
• Provide intelligence on category-related matters across Central Development Unit (CDU) and BU teams.
• Support in building relationships with local suppliers and contractors, driving localization efforts that meet Local Content and Government Procurement Authority (LCGPA) requirements and ensure that procurement activities support local economic development.
• Help identify suitable international suppliers to secure competitive pricing, strategic innovation partnerships and cutting-edge technologies for key project components.
• Support BU teams in execution of category strategy as needed.

Desired Candidate Profile

• 10+ years of experience in strategic procurement or category management in large-scale projects, ideally in construction, real estate, or urban development.
• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or related fields. MBA and/or other advanced degrees preferred.
• Preferred: CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply), CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management), or CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional).
• Proven expertise in managing categories such as building materials, FF&E, OS&E, site preparation, etc., within KSA, as well as strong negotiation skills.
• Proven track record of working in cross-collaborative environments and ensuring differing goals and needs align with overarching organizational strategy.
• Fluency in English is required, with proficiency in Arabic highly desirable.

Desired Competencies

• Relevant Business Acumen: Expertise related to strategic sourcing for large-scale projects, especially in the entertainment, tourism or construction sectors.
• Managerial Abilities: Strong ability to collaborate cross-functionally, manage project timelines and lead the team to success while maintaining a positive team environment.
• Experience with Multicultural Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and develop high-performing category teams.
• Local Context: Understanding of the local cultural and business landscape in Saudi Arabia through work experience in the region, with a global perspective on category management approaches.

Company Industry

• Entertainment
• Recreation
• Theme Parks

Department / Functional Area

• Corporate Planning
• Consulting
• M&A

Keywords

• Manager - Strategic Procurement