Assistant Category Lead

Job Description

Supports and works with the Category Lead to develop and deliver the sourcing strategies geared to leverage on group spend, maximize profitability, supplier performance and enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness through the supply chain.Establish and manage robust and sustainable contract management techniques to maximize supplier performance and contract effectiveness. Negotiate suitable contracts on a total cost of acquisition basis to achieve high levels of value for money at minimal commercial and operational risk to the group.Play a pivotal role in the transformation of procurement within Farah as well as delivering optimal procurement process and outcomes.

• Deliver a category management approach to procurement which will migrate the department from
• transactional buying to long term strategic partnership based procurement.
• Develop together with the Category Lead ? category/ sub-category strategies and procurement projects within the overall category, to ensure that savings and efficiencies are achieved.
• Manage and execute the contract management framework. Negotiate suitable contracts on a total cost of acquisition basis to achieve high levels of value for money at minimal commercial and operational risk to the group.
• Implement where possible blanket purchase agreements to ensure optimize process efficiencies.
• Develop and deploy expertise within a particular area of spend (category) as required to achieve optimum
• value for money solutions and provide support to departments as required to ensure the best interests of the organization are protected and promoted.
• Leverage on Farah group spend, consolidation opportunities, supply chain re-engineering and value engineering.
• Develop and manage relationships with suppliers that contribute to performance management, build capacity, enhance control of the supply chain, and promote a partnering approach to managing contracts.
• Support the development of the contract process, ensuring robust contracts are established and are compliant with policy, DOA and statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Support procurement related negotiations which fall outside current strategies to ensure savings; value for money and efficiencies are secured and that coaching and mentoring is deployed to the business in the process.
• Provide support, advice and guidance to managers acting as an ambassador for the development of procurement within the organization.
• Contribute to the provision of internal and external training to develop supply chain and strategic sourcing understanding.
• Work collaboratively with the Procurement operations team to develop effective and efficient practices through improved supply chain utilization.

• Bachelor University Degree or studying towards a relevant tertiary qualification.
• 4+ years? experience in Procurement and ideally a strategic sourcing or category management position.
• Expertise in identifying, developing, setting and achieving targeted sourcing strategies and initiatives aligned to business objectives.
• Experience of leading practice techniques to include practical knowledge and evidenced application of category management, strategic sourcing, management of complex tenders and contract and supplier management.
• Experience of procurement in the UAE / GCC.
• A good negotiator considerate of all variables and the ability to think and act strategically with strong commercial awareness.
• Good core professional skills (general strategic and tactical skills, project management, budgeting processes, compliance with business policies, PC skills).
• Good influencing skills (agenda-setting, facilitating and coaching, creating case for change, communication skills (written and oral), social skills).
• Capable report writer with effective presentation and influencing skills.
• A strong and effective communicator, using a broad range of techniques to motivate, stimulate and influence teams and individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Experience in stakeholder management, communications and planning.
• Customer service orientated and highly effective communicator and team player.
• Results orientated and self-motivated.
• Fluent in both the verbal and written English language.

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