Category Lead – Corporate Services

Role Overview

The Procurement Category Lead for Corporate Services drives strategic procurement initiatives, focusing on Travel, HR, Consultancy, and Professional Services. With approximately AED 500M in third-party spending, the role involves crafting and executing category strategies that align with organizational goals while delivering cost-effective and efficient solutions. This position includes leading a small team of Sourcing Managers, managing third-party vendor relationships, tracking performance, and driving year-over-year cost savings in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Procurement Leadership
• Category Strategy Development: Establish clear, measurable objectives by analyzing market data, stakeholder input, and organizational needs.
• Scenario Planning: Conduct Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, should-cost modeling, and value chain mapping to identify optimization opportunities.
• Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure procurement policies, budgets, and regulatory requirements are adhered to and take corrective actions when necessary.
• Project Management: Oversee procurement projects with defined objectives, timelines, and resource allocation, ensuring effective execution.
• Demand Management
• Work closely with stakeholders to balance business needs with procurement strategies.
• Identify cost-effective solutions to meet business goals while ensuring resource optimization.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Lead the Source-to-Contract (S2C) process, including supplier identification, selection, and negotiation.
• Cultivate strong, sustainable relationships with key suppliers to ensure alignment with business objectives and enhance supplier performance.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Partner with internal stakeholders to refine specifications and ensure they align with organizational values.
• Build effective, long-term relationships, demonstrating political acumen to influence decision-making processes.

Required Skills for Success

• Expertise in category strategy development, total cost analysis, and ecosystem mapping.
• Experience in monitoring compliance and executing risk mitigation plans across procurement activities.
• Strong proficiency in supplier lifecycle management, collaboration, and performance evaluation.
• Familiarity with budget discussions, procurement KPIs, and cost management.
• Knowledge of procurement systems and ee-catalog management.
• Proven ability to influence decision-making, manage cross-functional teams, and establish long-term relationships.
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to drive and manage change effectively.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required;
  Master’s degree preferred.
• CIPS (or equivalent) qualification is highly desirable.
• 7–10 years of procurement experience, focusing on category and/or supplier management.
• Proven track record in project management and using procurement tools.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken); proficiency in additional languages is a plus.