Purchase Officer – Construction

Overview

The Purchase Officer is entrusted with overseeing the comprehensive procurement processes for materials, equipment, subcontractor services, and site necessities linked to construction, landscaping, infrastructure, and contracting projects. This role is crucial in ensuring materials are procured timely in alignment with project budgets, technical requirements, quality benchmarks, and delivery timelines. Cooperation with key project stakeholders such as Project Managers, Site Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, and suppliers forms a pivotal part in facilitating seamless project execution.

Key Duties

• Assess and manage Material Requisitions (MRs) arising from various project sectors including construction, landscaping, irrigation, infrastructure, and civil works.
• Liaise with Project Managers, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, and Site Teams to fully grasp project demands, specifications, Bill of Quantities (BOQs), and delivery plans.
• Align procurement activity with project milestone targets and construction schedules.
• Identify and source capable suppliers both local and international for diverse materials encompassing construction, MEP products, landscaping, irrigation, hardscape materials, heavy machinery, and site consumables.
• Solicit a minimum of three competitive quotes when applicable and conduct thorough evaluations based on cost, quality, delivery times, warranty, and commercial arrangements.
• Negotiate with suppliers to secure advantageous pricing, payment conditions, and delivery terms without compromising on quality standards.
• Create and issue Local Purchase Orders (LPOs) through Oracle ERP or equivalent systems, complying with internal authorization processes.
• Track the procurement lifecycle from order placement to final delivery ensuring deadlines are met.
• Establish and nurture strong supplier relationships, perform supplier evaluations, and select vendors according to company-approved lists and procedures.
• Coordinate with logistics, warehouses, and site staff to ensure prompt material arrivals, and actively resolve any supply chain disruptions.
• Maintain exhaustive procurement documentation including quotes, comparison analyses, purchase orders, delivery notes, invoices, correspondence, and records.
• Ensure adherence to company procurement policies, contract conditions, and ISO Quality Management System standards, supporting internal and external audits by maintaining accurate records.
• Monitor market conditions to identify cost-saving opportunities and contribute to continuous procurement process improvements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Civil or Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or related fields.
• Possession of CIPS certification or similar procurement qualification is advantageous.
• Between 3 and 5 years of procurement experience in the UAE or GCC specializing in construction, landscaping, infrastructure, civil engineering, or MEP projects.
• Demonstrated expertise procuring construction materials, landscaping and irrigation products, MEP components, heavy equipment, and subcontractor services.
• Working knowledge of Oracle ERP or equivalent procurement software.

Skills & Competencies

• Comprehensive understanding of procurement processes in the construction and contracting sectors.
• Familiarity with BOQs, technical specifications, project drawings, and procurement workflows.
• Strong negotiation capabilities and supplier relationship management.
• Insight into construction project scheduling and effective material planning.
• High proficiency with Oracle ERP and Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Performance Indicators

• Timely procurement aligning with project schedules.
• High percentage of deliveries made according to agreed timelines.
• Achieving procurement cost savings within budget limits.
• Strong supplier delivery and quality compliance records.
• Efficiency in purchase order processing and documentation accuracy.
• Minimization of procurement-related non-conformances during audits.
• Positive feedback from project teams regarding procurement support.