Assistant Manager - Procurement

About the Role

The Procurement Division at Expo City Dubai oversees the full procurement lifecycle for all goods, services, and works essential to support its real estate projects and developments. Responsibilities encompass managing competitive tender processes, evaluating and selecting vendors and contractors, negotiating and awarding contracts, and ensuring compliance with Expo City's strategic policies. The division also focuses on strategic sourcing by conducting market research, benchmarking prices, and utilizing market insights to secure superior materials and services cost-effectively.

This role assists in managing procurement activities that align with Expo City's vision. It involves developing and executing procurement policies and procedures and translating strategic business priorities into procurement plans that balance cost-efficiency with adherence to corporate governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the formulation and deployment of the Procurement department's strategy by translating it into actionable plans that align with Expo City's overall goals.
• Collaborate with leadership to define short-, medium-, and long-term departmental targets and objectives.
• Help prepare annual procurement plans and budgets alongside line management.
• Assist in monitoring Procurement-related key performance indicators.
• Oversee day-to-day procurement operations, promoting teamwork and ensuring professional process flows to uphold high performance.
• Implement procurement strategies for major projects and provide weekly updates on progress.
• Support sourcing initiatives for materials and finalize framework agreements to maximize cost efficiency and compliance.
• Identify and evaluate new contractors and suppliers to enhance the company's supply chain.
• Conduct market analyses and benchmark suppliers.
• Maintain and update procurement schedules and tender activities.
• Manage assigned tender packages, including uploading documents into ERP systems, issuing tenders, handling queries, negotiating, evaluating bids, preparing recommendation reports, and executing contracts.
• Coordinate follow-ups with bidders, suppliers, consultants, and contractors.
• Organize site visits, pre-bid meetings, and tender interviews.
• Facilitate technical workshops with design teams, consultants, and contractors; document and track outcomes.
• Assist the team in issuing RFQ, RFP, and EOI requests via email.
• Maintain comprehensive records of all issued procurement documents.
• Work on rate benchmarking using subcontractor data and unit rates from primary principals.
• Lead procurement processes for nominated subcontractors and suppliers.
• Maintain ongoing tender trackers and databases for completed and active projects.
• Ensure tenders deliver cost savings and provide optimal value for every dirham spent.
• Contribute to identifying value engineering opportunities as needed.
• Generate tender reports and manage contract awards and analyses while minimizing risk.
• Keep an up-to-date database of qualified business suppliers to support procurement and business needs.
• Establish strong relationships with key stakeholders to garner support and ensure collaboration in procurement activities.
• Maintain a comprehensive vendor database of pre-qualified suppliers.
• Uphold corporate governance throughout all procurement procedures.
• Foster and maintain effective communication with internal and external stakeholders and direct managers.
• Promote Expo City's culture and vision within the contracts function through consistent performance management, feedback, and coaching.

Qualifications and Experience

• Possess a minimum of 4 years of relevant procurement experience.
• Hold a degree in Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, preferably in related fields.
• Professional memberships such as MRICS or MCIPS are advantageous but not essential.
• Demonstrate knowledge of procurement principles applied within construction and real estate development sectors.
• Experience working on residential projects including villas, townhouses, and mid-rise buildings (G+14).
• Understand procurement categories, contractors, and consultants specific to the regional market.
• Exhibit strong commercial analysis skills and a numerically driven mindset.
• Familiarity with construction procurement practices and routes.
• Awareness of contractual terms and conditions, including consultants' agreements and FIDIC contracts.
• Knowledge about UAE supply chains and ability to conduct market surveys and analyses.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of ERP software like Oracle and SAP is beneficial.
• Understanding of FIDIC contract terms and conditions is an advantage.