Category Manager - Site Infrastructure EXPAT FIFO
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About the Opportunity
An exceptional opportunity awaits an experienced Category Manager to drive strategic procurement for a landmark APAC 'mega project' at the greenfield development stage. This is your chance to shape category management strategies from the ground up, working on one of the region's most significant mining construction projects. Working on an expat basis into Karachi and Dubai, you will lead end-to-end procurement activities across assigned categories, manage critical supplier relationships, and drive continuous improvement in sourcing processes. The role is pivotal in delivering cost efficiency, managing commercial risk, and ensuring alignment with business objectives while acting as the single point of contact for contract owners across your portfolio.
Location: Karachi, Dubai
Reports to: Commercial Manager
Department: Supply Chain
The Role
The Category Lead is responsible for leading and managing strategic procurement for specific spend categories, ensuring cost efficiency, supplier performance, and alignment with business objectives. This leadership role involves developing category strategies, managing key supplier relationships, negotiating contracts, and driving continuous improvement across sourcing processes while ensuring efficient operations through close collaboration with supply chain functional leads in Purchasing, Inventory, Logistics, and site operations.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Sourcing
* Develop and implement category management strategies in alignment with organizational goals
* Conduct market analysis and benchmarking to identify sourcing opportunities
* Manage end-to-end procurement activities within assigned categories, including tendering, evaluation, negotiation, and award
* Contribute to sustainability and local content goals by identifying responsible sourcing opportunities
* Ensure procurement processes are aligned with internal controls, compliance policies, and ERP systems (SAP S4HANA, ARIBA)
Supplier & Contract Management
* Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure service delivery and performance
* Monitor supplier compliance with contractual obligations, service level agreements (SLAs), and key performance indicators (KPIs)
* Lead contract negotiations and manage commercial terms with suppliers
* Manage contract post-award activities ensuring all responsibilities under the CMS standard are executed efficiently
* Manage interfaces with EPCM contractors and ensure alignment with project requirements
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
* Collaborate with stakeholders and specifically contract and technical owners to understand requirements and ensure contract scope is comprehensive and adequate to provide the best outcome for the company
* Regularly engage stakeholders to build strong relationships and build confidence and understanding in sourcing activities
* Regularly engage and manage the legal team to navigate supplier and owner's legal position to efficiently conclude solutions managing risk and value
Team Leadership & Performance
* Efficiently manage category sourcing team to execute all pre-award sourcing events and post-award contract management activities
* Manage the team of contract administrators and specialists to execute pre and post-award sourcing activities according to CMS standard
* Track and report category performance, including cost savings, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency
Qualifications and Experience
Education
* Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field
* Professional certifications such as CIPS, CPSM, or equivalent preferred
Experience
* 8–11 years of relevant experience in category or strategic sourcing roles
* Strong experience in supplier management, contract negotiation, and category strategy development
* Experience working with ERP procurement systems like SAP S4HANA and ARIBA
* Preferably experience in mining construction project environment with associated civil or Quantity Surveyor/estimator degree
Skills and Capabilities
Core Competencies
* Strong analytical and market research skills
* Excellent negotiation and contract management capabilities
* Proficiency in procurement tools and data analysis (Excel, Power BI, SAP, ARIBA)
* Effective stakeholder engagement and communication skills
* Strong commercial and financial acumen
* Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Specialist Expertise
* Experience in running and facilitating various tenders and/or sourcing events
* Understand and can navigate the legal environment within the specific spend category and the various relevant legal contract templates, playbooks, and associated authority
* Understand the need to work with contract owners to develop scope of works
* Influence superiors to ensure timely approval at various stages of the sourcing process
* Efficiently approve and elevate delays to improve sourcing process efficiency
* Has preferably worked in a construction-related industry
What We Offer
A competitive salary package is offered, with short and long-term incentives.
Apply today for an immediate response, and full brief, in assured confidence.
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