Procurement Development Lead

Company: King Abdullah University of Science & Technology

Job Purpose

The Procurement Development Lead shall support the Director of Procurement and Supply Chain in advancing the procurement and supply chain department by focusing on the optimization and continuous improvement of the SAP Ariba system. This role is dedicated to driving process innovations, operational efficiencies, and automation, ensuring the best industry practices and standard system solutions are implemented. The Procurement Development Lead works in close collaboration with the systems team to enhance the functionalities of SAP Ariba and will play a key role in supporting training initiatives for procurement teams and customer departments.

Major Accountabilities

SAP Ariba System Optimization

• Acts as a Power-User/Subject Matter Expert of SAP Ariba, leading strategic initiatives to enhance system capabilities across key functionalities, for e-bidding, supplier performance monitoring, vendor registration documentation, and procurement reporting and data analytics.
• Collaborates with the systems development team to identify, design and implement new features and optimizations in SAP Ariba, ensuring user-friendly and efficient procurement processes.

Process Improvement and Efficiencies

• Drives continuous process improvement initiatives within the procurement and supply chain department to streamline operations and enhance operational efficiencies.
• Analyzes current procurement workflows to identify limitations, inefficiencies, and areas for automation, leading to optimized procurement processes.

Risk Management and Compliance

• Develops and implements robust risk management strategies within the procurement framework, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and best practices.
• Monitors procurement activities to identify and assess potential risks, ensuring timely escalation of high impact issues to senior management as needed.

Stakeholder Engagement and Training

• Engage with stakeholders across departments to gather requirements and feedback on procurement processes and the use of SAP Ariba, ensuring continuous alignment with business needs.
• Designs and delivers targeted training programs for procurement and Customer teams (requesters) to enhance their understanding and utilization of the SAP Ariba system.

Excellence in Procurement Practices

• Fosters a culture of excellence in procurement practices by sharing best practices, methodologies and continuous improvement strategies with the procurement team and other key stakeholders.
• Contributes to the development of procurement strategies that align with organizational objectives, drives value and adheres to industry standards.
• Achieves targets and sustainable value for the organization through effective implementation and optimization of procurement processes in SAP Ariba.

Expertise and Technical Knowledge

• Demonstrates extensive knowledge of SAP Ariba, its solutions and end-to-end procurement processes, including process optimization and risk management.

Results Orientation

• Strong commitment to understanding and addressing stakeholder needs related to procurement and achieving operational efficiencies.

IT Skills

• Proficient in e-procurement applications, with specialized expertise in SAP Ariba, and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Leadership

• Ability to coach and support members of the procurement team and other departments in utilizing SAP Ariba effectively.
• Ability to contribute innovative solutions that enhance procurement processes and contribute to overall efficiency.

Project Management

• Ability to lead and manage projects effectively, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and timely delivery of outcomes.

Change Management and Influence

• Skilled in engaging with stakeholders to gather insights and influence improvements in procurement processes and system performance.
• Strong expertise in change management methodologies to facilitate smooth transitions and minimize resistance among stakeholders during process enhancements and foster collaborative relationships.

Communication Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication. Able to communicate complex ideas and strategies effectively with senior stakeholders and executives.
• Strong sense of accountability and ability to determine actions, risks and results to get the job done.

Analytical/Problem Solving Skills

• Strong problem-solving skills and techniques with an ability to analyze spend data, market trends and setting strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or in a relevant field. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

• 8 years of experience in a procurement organization with a minimum of 4 years as a Power-User in SAP Ariba, focusing on process improvement and cross-functional project management.