Manager / Director, Strategic Sourcing, Middle East & Africa

We are seeking a dynamic and accomplished Strategic Sourcing Director to lead our GPP procurement function across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. This pivotal role is responsible for shaping and executing regional sourcing strategies, driving innovation, and ensuring operational excellence within a highly matrixed, multicultural environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement effective sourcing strategies for a diverse range of goods and services across all MEA countries, aligning with global and regional business objectives.

• Lead supplier performance management, focusing on continuous improvement, cost optimization, and innovation.

• Act as a strategic partner to local business leaders, driving cost efficiencies while enhancing customer experience, product quality, and productivity.

• Champion the transformation of the procurement function, with a primary focus on cost leadership, innovation, and operational effectiveness.

• Provide ongoing support to Operations teams to increase compliance and deliver best-in-class procurement practices.

• Establish and nurture strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring high-quality, reliable sources of supply and information.

• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and service level agreements in accordance with corporate procurement policies and procedures.

• Serve as the escalation point for all supplier-related matters, ensuring alignment with internal stakeholders.

• Collaborate closely with the Corporate GPP Procurement team at headquarters to implement global contracts and initiatives within the region.

• Lead, inspire, and develop a multicultural team across multiple countries.

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Economics, Business, Engineering, or a related field.

• A Master’s degree is highly desirable.

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in strategic sourcing, with a proven track record in cross-cultural and matrix-based environments.

• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience engaging multiple stakeholders and operational leaders who may have differing priorities or limited commitment to procurement initiatives.

• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution capabilities, able to navigate resistance diplomatically while maintaining productive long-term relationships with multiple stakeholders.

• Experience balancing corporate procurement standards with external stakeholders expectations, ensuring commercial objectives are achieved without compromising operational effectiveness or brand standards.

• Ability to gain credibility through a consultative approach rather than relying solely on authority, successfully driving procurement compliance across independently minded hotel leadership teams.

• Comfortable operating in ambiguous environments, demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and persistence when faced with incomplete information, changing priorities, or challenging stakeholder dynamics.

• Able to travel (Approx.50% of the time)