Category Manager

Role Overview

Category Manager at Al Ghurair. Procure materials and services through strategic approach, choose the right vendor for requirements, ensure quality control, and adhere to company policies and procedures. Manage purchasing team and process, sourcing, negotiation, supplier identification, new project mobilization, delivery, and supplier management.

Role Purpose

Own the complete procurement lifecycle for assigned categories, from spend analysis and supplier identification through contract negotiation, performance monitoring, and continuous cost and quality improvement. Lead the purchasing team to deliver timely, compliant procurement that supports project delivery and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Development

• Perform spend analysis and plan Long-Term Purchase Agreements (LTPA) and tender categories based on priority and organizational needs.
• Identify and pre-qualify new potential suppliers.
• Prepare tender documents with necessary scope, technical, and commercial evaluation criteria.
• Arrange samples for approval.
• Arrange e-auction to select the right supplier.
• Prepare supplier contract agreements.

Operational Management

• Oversee and supervise the purchasing team and ensure timely purchase orders adhere to company policies and procedures.
• Verify and approve purchase orders (PO), ARF (Advance Requisition Form), and transport indents in the portal.
• Assess and source quotations from potential suppliers.
• Negotiate contracts, improved prices, payment terms, and delivery terms with suppliers.
• Review opportunities to make business savings.

New Project Mobilization

• Understand new project needs and formulate material and service delivery plans per requirement and deadlines.
• Regularly update operations heads on mobilization progress.
• Resolve issues faced during mobilization.
• Monitor and track spends within allocated budget.

Supplier Performance Management & Evaluation

• Monitor suppliers and subcontractor performance in conjunction with store and site personnel.
• Evaluate performance of contracts and address non-compliance.
• Evaluate supplier performance based on cost, quality of goods/services, competency, and consistency.
• Prepare reports on PO spend, open POs, pending indents, and savings.
• Present reports to management.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors on contract and contracting process reviews.
• Determine completeness, efficacy, and accuracy of procurement processes to assess success and failures in procurement contract administration.

Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Communicate with stakeholders regularly.
• Arrange and attend internal and external meetings to address issues.
• Ensure professional and consistent approach in all supplier relationships.
• Strengthen supplier relationships by earning trust through honest communication, listening to concerns, and involving suppliers in processes.
• Resolve escalated issues.

Employee Engagement

• Engage employees in decision-making to foster ownership.

Continuous Improvement

• Continuously perform market research by attending industry-related expos, conducting online research, and attending seminars.
• Identify and meet new potential suppliers and products.
• Identify areas of improvement to continually drive performance.
• Research and evaluate areas of opportunity.
• Reduce costs where possible.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor of Engineering degree.
• 8 years of experience in soft services procurement.
• Knowledge of sourcing and procurement techniques.
• Market intelligence on sources and trends.
• Experience in collecting and analyzing data.

Skills & Competencies

• Soft services procurement and strategic sourcing.
• Category management.
• Analytical and critical thinking.
• Negotiation.
• Market intelligence.
• Procurement ERP system and vendor portal proficiency.
• Cost-benefit and price analysis.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Result-oriented mindset.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.