Senior Specialist - Procurement

Role Overview

Aldar Education seeks a Senior Specialist - Procurement to support its growing family of schools in the United Arab Emirates. This role offers a skilled professional the opportunity to join Abu Dhabi's leading school group and help shape the future of premium education delivery.

Company Overview

Aldar Education is a family of world-class, child-centered, and innovative schools based in the UAE. Since its inception in 2007 with 250 students, the organization has grown to operate more than 25 owned and managed premium and super-premium schools and academies in partnership with prestigious institutions including Rugby School, King's College Wimbledon, and Cranleigh. The group educates over 38,000 students through 5,000 educators from more than 100 nationalities, delivering world-class education across a broad range of curricula and learning pathways from nursery through K12. Aldar Education contributes to the UAE's vision for a sustainable, knowledge-based economy through premium education.

Role Purpose

This position manages and optimizes procurement operations across the Aldar Education group of schools, establishing strategic supplier relationships, ensuring competitive pricing and timely delivery, and driving supply chain efficiency to support the organization's educational mission.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Management

• Manage and control all external suppliers with particular emphasis on commercial terms and conditions.
• Establish strategic relationships with key suppliers aligned with the company's needs.
• Identify new suppliers, agree terms, and negotiate supply agreements including discount structures and volume rebates.
• Perform supplier audits, supplier selection, and ongoing rating in tandem with End User Departments.
• Develop and maintain an effective vendor database to procure various services, equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Monitor services offered by vendors, assess vendor performance, and troubleshoot problematic areas.
• Negotiate procurement details with vendors and recommend cost-effective alternatives.
• Maintain current knowledge of new products and services.

Procurement Strategy and Analysis

• Establish strategies to improve supply chain, solve shortage issues, and strengthen supplier relationships.
• Continually assess market conditions affecting procurement and recommend procurement management strategy changes.
• Perform spend analysis and provide actionable insights.
• Evaluate and analyze department purchase requisitions for proper authorization, specifications, and legal compliance.
• Strong ability to negotiate terms, prices, and other critical contract elements.
• Ability to analyze and interpret procurement metrics and KPIs.

Purchase Order and Contract Management

• Prepare and raise purchase orders and order schedules.
• Negotiate contracts for procurement of goods and services from approved suppliers.
• Prepare award presentations for Tender Committee approvals.
• Evaluate and monitor framework agreement implementation.
• Undertake tendering of key specialist areas, ensuring effective capture of organizational requirements and establishment of competitive rates and commercial terms aligned to individual school requirements.
• Create and review purchase orders.
• Research and resolve receiving and accounts payable issues.
• Maintain files related to purchase orders, vendors, bids, quotes, and other correspondence.

Order Management and Delivery

• Ensure goods and services are bought at the most competitive price and delivered on time.
• Plan, schedule, and monitor delivery of goods and services to schools.
• Expedite orders as necessary.
• Identify actual and potential delivery problems and take proactive steps to inform appropriate personnel.
• Control, manage, and process incoming freight and logistics.
• Follow up with both vendors and schools to ensure requested items are delivered and received in full.
• Confirm with customers that all products are received in condition consistent with original request or bid.
• Coordinate delivery and installation.
• Keep constant contact with appropriate personnel to ensure satisfactory operations.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Foster close working relationships with associated departments including Education, Finance, IT, and Operations.
• Assist departments in evaluation of goods and services as needed.
• Ensure customers' expectations and requirements are met.
• Resolve conflicts concerning materials or services at department and vendor levels.
• Review warranties and coordinate returns or repairs of products.

Quotation and Vendor Evaluation

• Obtain competitive price quotes through preparation and implementation of formal request for quotation.
• Provide and coordinate product and service trial periods or demonstrations as required.
• Inputs, edits, and retrieve purchasing data.

Compliance and Responsibility

• Ensure all items related to schools are procured in a timely manner in line with purchasing policy.
• Take responsibility for procuring appropriate items or services.
• Maintain other department files including those pertaining to vendors, bids, quotes, and other correspondence.
• Undertake additional duties as required by the Line Manager.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum graduate-level degree or related Procurement-specific qualification.
• CIPS certification is an added value.
• Minimum of 6 years' experience in procurement within the region; education sector preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• In-depth knowledge of ERP platforms, particularly Oracle.
• Proficiency in procurement software and tools (e.g. SAP, Oracle).
• Knowledge of modern purchasing methods, strategic procurement practices, and data analytics.
• Working experience in ERP environment.
• Knowledge of purchasing and procurement concepts, processes, activities, and trends.
• General knowledge of agreement terms and conditions.
• Fluent English communication skills, written and oral; Arabic is added value.
• Attention to detail with diligent follow-up and ability to execute in a timely manner.
• Skilled in multi-tasking and handling pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

Additional Information

Benefits

Aldar Education offers an attractive remuneration package including medical cover, flights, housing, and free child school places. The organization emphasizes professional development, coaching, and training for both students and staff. Successful candidates have access to a wide network of professionals and opportunities to lead and contribute to training others as well as develop themselves.

Other Terms

Aldar Education is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. The organization encourages UAE Nationals in their applications. Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance. This job description is not all inclusive; Aldar Education reserves the right to amend it at any time.