Category Lead – Corporate Services Job in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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.