Procurement Research, Innovation & IT Supervisor

About the Role

The Procurement Research, Innovation & IT Supervisor is responsible for supervising the execution of category management and sourcing activities across KFUPM's IT, research, technology, research & laboratory, and related spend profiles. The role converts the approved category strategy and procurement plan into a controlled sourcing pipeline, provides day-to-day direction and quality assurance to Category Buyers, and partners with end users, IT, research and technical stakeholders to deliver compliant, timely and value-focused procurement outcomes. The Supervisor ensures sourcing activities are performed in line with the Supply Chain Policy, procedures, Delegation of Authority and Oracle-based systems, escalating material commercial, risk or stakeholder matters to the Director.

Accountabilities

Category Strategy Deployment & Procurement Planning

Translate the IT & Research category strategy into prioritised sourcing plans, demand forecasts and activity pipelines aligned with approved budgets, project timelines and stakeholder requirements.

Maintain category intelligence on demand, supply markets, technology trends, vendor capability, risk and total cost of ownership; identify opportunities to standardise specifications, aggregate demand and improve value.

Sourcing Execution & Commercial Oversight

Supervise end-to-end sourcing activities undertaken by Category Buyers, including PR review, sourcing route selection, pre-qualification, RFx development, bidder management, commercial evaluation, negotiation, award recommendation and purchase order or contract handover.

Review sourcing packs for completeness, commercial robustness, procedural compliance and appropriate approvals before submission to the relevant governance forum.

Team Supervision & Quality Assurance

Allocate work, set priorities and coach Category Buyers to ensure responsive service, consistent quality, accurate records and adherence to agreed SLAs.

Review workload, cycle time, sourcing pipeline and exceptions; resolve operational issues and escalate capacity, commercial or control risks to the Director.

Stakeholder & Supplier Coordination

Act as the operational procurement partner to IT, research, academic and technical stakeholders, clarifying requirements, timelines, specifications and evaluation approaches.

Coordinate with Vendor Management and Contract Management on supplier eligibility, performance information, contractual risks and post-award handover.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

Maintain accurate sourcing, pipeline, savings and compliance data in Oracle and approved trackers; provide timely category performance updates to the Director.

Identify and implement practical improvements to sourcing tools, templates, work practices and stakeholder engagement.

Policies, Processes and Procedures

Supply Chain Policy

Supply Chain Procedures

Delegation of Authority

Company-specific policies and procedures as required

Qualifications and Education

Bachelor's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or equivalent is required

Further specialised education in the field would be considered advantageous

CIPS / CSCP certification is a plus

Professional Experience

5-8 years of experience in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, or Procurement

Demonstrated experience procuring IT, technology, research & laboratory equipment & consumables, software, or related categories

Experience supervising, coaching or providing quality oversight to procurement staff is advantageous

Prior experience in a University, Government, or large institutional procurement environment is advantageous

Technical Competencies / Skills and Languages

Fluent in both English & Arabic

Category Strategy Deployment - IT & Research

Strategic Sourcing and Commercial Negotiation

Technology and Research Procurement

Demand Forecasting and Procurement Planning

Team Supervision and Quality Assurance

Stakeholder Collaboration and Coordination

Supplier Relationship and Performance Management

Documentation, Reporting and Governance

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

Attention to Detail and Accuracy

ERP or database system knowledge and experience - preferably Oracle Fusion

Time management and organisation skills

Procurement and Supply Chain