Senior Category Manager

Role overview

Strategic and team leadership

• Develops sectional objectives and plans aligned with organizational strategy; monitors execution and establishes KPIs.
• Manages the sectional budget and performance and recommends improvement initiatives.
• Leads workforce planning, supports Emiratization initiatives, identifies development needs, and coaches team members.

Procurement and category management

• Develops sourcing strategies from business requirements, category plans, market intelligence, forecasts, commercial analysis, and risk assessments.
• Conducts spend analysis, market analysis, category assessments, and commercial modelling; identifies trends, risks, innovations, and opportunities.
• Leads procurement planning and pre-contract management.

Tendering, contracts, and suppliers

• Oversees bidder prequalification, tender preparation, and tender issuance, ensuring compliance with procurement governance.
• Coordinates tender and contract documents with stakeholders, including Legal, and manages bidder communications.
• Directs bid openings, compliance reviews, technical and commercial evaluations, clarifications, negotiations, and contract awards.
• Prepares award recommendations and obtains approvals; coordinates resolution of contractual disputes and claims.
• Develops vendor classification and evaluation frameworks and oversees supplier registration, performance monitoring, and improvement.

Cost, governance, and reporting

• Identifies cost-saving and efficiency opportunities, reviews contracts to optimize value, and supports procurement automation and technology initiatives.
• Ensures compliance with policies, delegated authority, legal, risk, and quality requirements; participates in audits and continuous improvement.
• Prepares management reports, recommends corrective actions, and leads change initiatives within the section.
• Maintains procurement, leadership, and technical capabilities and participates in performance and development activities.

Education and experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Strategic Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; CIPS qualification is preferred.
• Minimum eight years of relevant procurement, sourcing, or supply-chain experience.
• Proven category management and contract management experience.
• Experience managing and developing large teams; aviation industry experience is an advantage.

Key skills and competencies

• Strategic thinking, analytical acumen, commercial awareness, negotiation, and influencing.
• Stakeholder management, collaboration, leadership, and team development.
• Procurement planning, sourcing strategy, contract and supplier management, and risk assessment.
• Change management, budget management, reporting, and performance management.
• Adaptability, ethical judgment, sustainability focus, and technology and process improvement awareness.