Category Buyer-Emirati Nationals

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrows possible.

Thales has built a presence in the United Arab Emirates for over 35 years, and today has over 300 employees. Thales in the UAE is part of our Middle East business that has 1,800 people across Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, KSA, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and UAE. Together we delivered technology for the Dubai metro, the longest driverless metro network in the world and a fare collection system that processes up to 250,000 transactions per day. We make UAE a safer place by providing secure electronic payment solutions, cyber security systems and communications as well as security systems for Dubai International Airport and air traffic management and navigation systems for Abu Dhabi’s airport.

JOB OBJECTIVE

The Category Buyer (CB) supports one or several procurement categories. The CB works in close relation with the relevant Global Category Managers (GCM), the Category Manager (CM) and the Tactical Buyer (TB). All actions have to be in line with the strategy defined by the Global Category Manager and the regional CM. The CBs prime role is the management of the RFI or/and RFPs until PVet 4 stage (up to PVet 5 based on some Regions) in order to bring competitiveness and performance to the business. CB role is accountable of the relationship with the panel of supplier within his/her perimeter.

Roles & Responsibilities

In addition to this their main tasks are:

Operational Support :

• Ensure the BAs receive all required information to raise the Purchase Orders
  
  
  

Procurement Competitiveness Capture:

• Sourcing activities and market monitoring for defined categories including key players, newcomers, economic evolutions, market or regulation constraints, innovations and technology in order to support the development of the most up to date category strategies to the businesses.
• Based on the above provide insights as to how products / projects could be more competitive via the adoption of different suppliers / methodologies / technology etc.
  
  
  

Governance, Leadership and Performance Management:

• Ensure appropriate governance is applied using KPIs and root cause corrective actions
  
  
  

Supplier / Acquisition Management:

• Performance management of the supply base in line with the standards set out by the Global Category Manager .
• Ensure that supplier competitions follow the governance process and are balanced and fair in order to improve business and customer performance.
  
  
  

Lead contract activities with supplier and ensure that compliance assessment of the supplier is matching Thales group rules

• Ensure that global contracts / framework agreements are adopted and utilised.
• Ensure that Thales e-Acquisition and all THALES procurement tools are fully used.
• Based on the performance management of the supply base identify the suppliers who require focused development actions and ensure that the Supplier Development Team have the required support / leverage in order for these actions to be successful.
  
  
  

Work Experience Requirements

3+ years’ experience in Engineering.

Experience working in project/program, design / product development with cross-functional teams.

Demonstrable experience in bids/project or procurement topics (e.g. negotiation, supplier meetings, visits) is desirable.

Qualification, Certification & Educational Requirements

Diploma in Engineering – Electronics field preferred

Experience/Diploma in Procurement desirable

English language fluency is required

Arabic language is desirable

Preferred Skills

Hard Skills :

Engineering background in Electronics and product/service associated knowledge to allow leverage in negotiation with supplier/ good understanding of supplier’s capabilities

Skills in the field of market survey / sourcing experience desired

Ability to implement operational supply chain strategy

Contractual knowledge especially of framework agreements, Liability & insurance.

Ability to lead negotiation including import / export considerations

Understanding of the market for the categories under his/her control but also ability to understand the customer’s needs and program issues

Good knowledge of a best practice acquisition Process.

Soft Skills :

Capability to work within cross functional and international multi organizational teams (teamwork)

Open minded (listen, share ideas etc.) and able to bring added value and new ideas

Ability to take initiatives with a good capacity of analysis and of synthesis

Ability to prioritize tasks

Ability to represent Thales and to demonstrate Thales values

Good written and verbal communication skills

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Great journeys start here, apply now!

---