Senior Procurement Specialist

Role Overview

Lead the end-to-end sourcing and commercial performance management for a set portfolio of commodity categories encompassing both rice and non-rice products. This role is senior and results-driven, requiring strong commercial and financial acumen to manage categories independently by securing reliable supply sources, conducting effective negotiations, generating cost-saving initiatives, nurturing new suppliers, and optimizing freight and logistics where applicable.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of sourcing for rice and non-rice product lines and create category buying strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Ensure acquisition of 100% of designated seasonal volumes at the best cost, quality, and supply reliability.
• Maintain continuous oversight of inventory coverage, pending orders, and market trends.
• Implement structured cost-saving initiatives including should-cost and open-book analyses targeting sustainable savings.
• Drive increased operational efficiency across purchasing, product specification, packaging, and logistics.
• Quantify and report savings with a maintained pipeline of improvement opportunities.
• Challenge existing costs, payment terms, and procurement processes to encourage improvements.
• Support supplier negotiation efforts including contracts, specifications, schedules, and payment conditions.
• Enforce contract terms such as back-out penalties and Delivery On Time In Full (DOTIF) targets, and advance supplier terms toward split letters of credit.
• Manage supplier contracts ensuring compliance and resolve quality or delivery issues promptly.
• Develop new and emerging suppliers to reduce dependency on single sources.
• Conduct supplier performance evaluations using scorecards to guide volume allocation.
• Establish contingency and backup supplier plans to secure supply continuity.
• Optimize logistics by negotiating freight rates and managing shipping operations for assigned categories where capable.
• Coordinate carrier selection and Incoterms with freight benchmarks and collaborate with trade execution teams.
• Track freight unit costs relative to benchmark standards.
• Maintain accuracy of Purchase Orders, Letters of Credit, and related documentation within all assigned categories.
• Ensure total accuracy of SAP ERP data for purchase orders, in-transit inventory, goods receipt, and supplier records.
• Log all supply events in internal tracking systems promptly within 24-48 hours.
• Compile detailed category performance, savings results, and market analysis reports for management review.
• Provide evidence-based procurement proposals for weekly purchasing committees.
• Guarantee adherence to company policies and regulatory requirements, supporting audits internally and externally.
• Collaborate closely with supply planning, demand planning, finance, warehouse, and logistics teams to synchronize purchasing with organizational needs.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business administration, or a related discipline.
• Experience of 4 to 6 years in procurement with proven record of category ownership and delivering cost optimization.
• Familiarity with SAP ERP systems or similar procurement platforms.
• Fluent written and spoken English skills.

Preferred Skills and Additional Attributes

• Master's degree or MBA qualifications highly desirable.
• Certifications such as CIPS or CPSM beneficial.
• Strong knowledge of cost modeling and price intelligence tools.
• Background in FMCG or commodity procurement including freight and logistics negotiations.
• Experience in developing suppliers and managing structured savings initiatives.
• Ability to speak Arabic is a significant advantage.