Sr. Manager Commercial Procurement

jamjoompharma / careers; Makkah Region; On-site; SAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company in Saudi Arabia is seeking a Senior Procurement Manager to spearhead procurement activities across various regions, including the Gulf and North Africa. The ideal candidate should possess over 10 years of extensive procurement experience with a focus on marketing, IT, and corporate travel. Strong negotiation skills and the ability to manage vendor relations in a regulatory environment are critical for this role.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years' experience in procurement.
• Strong focus on marketing procurement and corporate travel sourcing.
• Preferably in pharmaceutical, life sciences, or FMCG.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement for marketing-related services across the region.
• Oversee sourcing and vendor management for IT infrastructure.
• Manage regional travel procurement including airlines and hotels.
• Develop and implement regional category strategies.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Negotiation capabilities

Vendor management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, procurement, supply chain, or a related field

MBA or professional certifications (CIPS, CPSM)

Tools

SAP

Coupa

Ariba

Job description

Senior Procurement Manager based in Jeddah to lead and manage procurement activities across Saudi Arabia, Gulf, Egypt, and Algeria. The role covers a broad range of indirect procurement categories, with a primary focus on Marketing & Events, Information Technology, and Corporate Travel. The ideal candidate will bring strategic sourcing expertise, strong regional market knowledge, and a deep understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements in the pharmaceutical industry. Standardized procurement policies and procedures across the region, managing sourcing, negotiation, and contracting for goods and services.

Key Responsibilities

Marketing & Events Procurement

• Lead procurement for marketing-related services across the region
• Medical and scientific congresses (local & international)
• Promotional materials, branded merchandise, printing
• Creative, media buying, digital content, and communication agencies
• Ensure all marketing activities are fully compliant with JP codes of ethics and local regulations.
• Collaborate with brand, commercial, and medical teams to support campaign execution and event planning.
• Establish operational and compliance frameworks, collaborating with the legal team to create a shared services model and delegation of authority structure.
• Develop a preferred supplier network with aim to reduce total cost of ownership, optimizing supplier performance and improving sourcing effectiveness.

IT Procurement

• Oversee sourcing and vendor management for software (licensing, renewals), IT infrastructure, cybersecurity
• Digital platforms, cloud solutions, and managed IT services
• Partner with IT Head to ensure procurement aligns with regional digital strategy and data protection laws.
• Drive vendor compliance and cost optimization initiatives.

Travel Procurement

• Manage regional travel procurement including travel management companies, airlines, hotels, ground transport
• Booking platforms and corporate travel programs
• Ensure cost-effective travel policies and compliance with internal governance.
• Monitor vendor KPIs and traveler satisfaction metrics.

Cross-Category Procurement Leadership

• Develop and implement regional category strategies across all covered areas.
• Run RFPs, negotiations, contracting, and renewals with local and regional vendors.
• Identify and execute opportunities for cost savings and vendor consolidation.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, documentation standards, and audit requirements.
• Provide regular reporting on spend, savings, supplier performance, and risk.
• Establish long-term agreements focused on cost control, quality improvements, and favorable payment terms.
• Standardized procurement policies and procedures across the region, managing sourcing, negotiation, and contracting for goods and services.
• Oversee contract negotiations and prepare purchase orders for various projects, ensuring adherence to procurement policies and timely project execution.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in business, procurement, supply chain, or a related field. MBA or professional certifications (CIPS, CPSM) preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years' experience in procurement, with a strong focus on marketing procurement (events, media, promotional materials), IT procurement (software, hardware, services), and corporate travel sourcing.
• Industry Experience: Preferably in pharmaceutical, life sciences, or FMCG.

Key Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation capabilities.
• Deep understanding of vendor and stakeholder management across multiple countries.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with pharma industry regulations (SFDA, EDA, DHA etc.).
• Regional experience and ability to work across cultures.
• Proficiency in procurement systems (e.g., SAP, Coupa, Ariba).
• Excellent communication and project management skills.