Sr. Category Specialist - Facilities Management

The Category Senior Specialist role is responsible for managing procurement activities within a subset of the HC categories, including outsourcing agencies, recruiting agencies, travel, and consultancy, across all operating countries and OpCos. This role involves implementing sourcing strategies, conducting tenders and negotiations, and executing contracts. Key responsibilities include identifying OpCo requirements, executing procurements, and managing the evaluation process. Role Details – Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Works in close collaboration with internal business stakeholders to gather requirements for sourcing activities while meeting cost savings initiatives.
• Support cost-savings initiatives as established by the category lead to ensure cost optimization opportunities being met while ensuring continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic inputs and supply market information to guide business decisions and act as a conduit for procurement activities
• Coordinate negotiations, contract development, contract implementation, and supplier contract compliance
• Develop, implement, and report to stakeholders meaningful KPIs that accurately demonstrate performance
• Lead the suppliers and stakeholders of the supply chain through effective engagement and communication by delivering supplier awareness programs.
• Adhere to procurement processes and protocol and apply appropriate solutions for issues for stakeholders.
• Manage complex sourcing, contracting, and supply management activities for assigned categories through a defined sourcing methodology (RFx)
• Gather complex data, draws insights, and executes data analysis for sourcing initiatives
• Conduct category-specific market research, uses insights to provide supplier market intelligence, and realize identified savings opportunities
• Ensures an ongoing review of cos analysis is conducting to support sourcing initiatives for respective vertical.
• Continuously build and maintains key stakeholder relationships both internal and external.
• Become the subject matter expert in terms of developing a strong understanding of descriptions of the product and service offerings, and capabilities and strengths/weakness of current suppliers
• Work in close collaboration with Legal, Finance, and other business functions to obtain needed support, meet overall business objectives, SLA's to mitigate any risk to the business and their operations.
• Conduct ongoing reviews to ensure suppliers are performing to contracted obligations and service levels are being met.

Job Dimension – (E.g. Revenue & Budget size, Sales Volume etc.) Executing and managing RFx (tender, proposals, quotations, e-auctions, negotiations, RFIs, EOIs) from 100,000 AED to 15,000,000 AED Other Context (if applicable): Functional/Technical Competencies:

• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to determine product needs and to create constructive relationships with vendors.
• Project management: Be able to multiple projects at one time. The ability to plan, delegate and evaluate progress toward goals is necessary for managing these projects.
• Negotiation: Negotiating vendor contracts and strong understanding price points and be able to negotiate effectively.
• Problem-solving: Ability to resolve issues of a product or service that don't meet the quality standards or does not meet business objectives of the respective OpCo.
• Operational experience in working on SAP Ariba, e-Rfx and digital skills
• Stakeholder management Personal Characteristics and Required Background: Skillset (job specific technical skills and behavioral competencies needed)
• Working knowledge of Procurement and Contract Management related software a plus.
• In-depth understanding and practiced best-in-class procurement processes, systems and practices
• Fair knowledge of contract terms and conditions and in country laws and regulations • Customer focused & takes time to understand the needs of the business
• Partnering, influencing and negotiation skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English Minimum experience
• Min 3 years of experience in a related/similar senior Procurement position
• Min 6 years of overall experience in Procurement
• Experience in a large indirect and direct Procurement organization dealing with multiple contract types covering Facilities Management services
• Experience in Procurement sourcing and oversight for all procurement RFX process for smooth delivery of operations to procurement category managers Minimum Qualifications/education
• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, finance, or in a related field, based on the categories managed and a professional Procurement qualification (e.g. MCIPS) is a plus.