Regional Category Specialist
Make a difference every day 

We are a multinational organisation with a global team of 50,000 colleagues. In the Middle East we operate in the Transport, Defence & Advisory sectors, delivering services in Asset Management, Customer Experience, Fire & Rescue and Air Navigation Services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services to fulfil our purpose to impact a better future by "Bringing National Visions to Life".  
 
Your Opportunity  

We are looking for a Regional Category Specialist to provide procurement and sourcing expertise and execution capacity to support effective management of Serco’s spend and supply base in the region by  leading delivery of sourcing and continuous improvement projects that result in required business outcomes, robust contracts and improved value for money and collaborating with key stakeholders and procurement category managers to capture business requirements, develop effective sourcing strategies, run RFPs and successfully negotiate contracts for the supply of goods and services.
 

The ideal candidate should have the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and independently as required, to also multi-task, prioritise and manage workload effectively and efficiently to produce quality deliverables within required timescales, and be able to work at a fast pace and maintain attention to detail.

This role is part of the finance team and will be based in our corporate office in Dubai.  
 

Key Accountabilities 

• Engaging and managing selected key suppliers in collaboration with key stakeholders across business units

• Optimising value delivery, performance improvement and risk mitigation from the supply base

• Ensuring that benefits are recognised by key stakeholders to allow benefit delivery

• Plan and manage delivery of procurement projects (>£50k) ensuring compliance to Sourcing & Category Management processes and governance

• Support Category Managers in the delivery of large, complex procurement projects

• Direct, oversee and support Buyers in the delivery of procurement projects

• Review and analyse business purchase needs to determine the best procurement strategy to meet requirements in line with any relevant category strategies

• Participate in global category communities of practice to share category insights and best practices globally

• Conduct market analysis to identify and source potential suppliers, ensuring appropriate qualification and due diligence is completed

• Maximise competitive sourcing opportunities wherever possible

• Obtain stakeholder input to the development of statements of works/requirements

• Publish the RFx to bidders and manage the RFx process (bidder questions, bidder submissions, evaluation & shortlisting)

• Provide RFx event support to Category Managers including advice and support in the creation and management of sourcing events

Specific Requirements 

• Graduate calibre with Bachelor’s degree preferably in Business (or other related degree) or CIPS qualified or working towards CIPS qualification

• At least 4 years’ experience working in Procurement

• Working knowledge of category management, strategic sourcing and contract management 

• Working knowledge and practical experience of using eSourcing systems to run sourcing events (preferable)

• Good desktop computing skills, particularly MS Excel and MS Powerpoint and the ability to learn Serco applications such as SMART, Power BI

What’s in it for you? 

At Serco, our core values drive everything we do, and we believe in fairly compensating our colleagues for the value they bring to our organization. We are proud to offer a total reward package at Serco which includes: 

• Competitive monthly pay and allowances that are commensurate with the role and industry standards 
• Comprehensive medical insurance coverage and life insurance, so our employees can feel secure in their health and financial wellbeing 
• We recognize the importance of work-life balance, which is why we offer competitive leave benefits that exceed industry standards 
• We offer an annual airfare allowance to support our expat colleagues to stay in touch and visit their loved ones 
• We pride ourselves on providing a supportive work environment where we foster a positive Safety-First culture 
• We care deeply about our colleagues' wellbeing and offer access to wellbeing programs and platforms to support their physical, mental, and emotional health. 
• As a global organization, we offer a vast array of career paths for our employees to choose from. The scale and breadth of our organization provides our colleagues with opportunities for growth and variety in their career path, both regionally and globally. 

Join Us 

At Serco, we believe there is a place here for everyone. A place where you can bring your authentic self to work every day. Our workplace culture is one that embraces diversity and fosters equity, respect, and belonging for every individual. We are committed to equal employment opportunities and creating an inclusive environment that proudly celebrates the perspectives and backgrounds that each of our employees bring to work every day. 

Join Serco and be part of a values-driven organization that invests in the development and well-being of its employees and offers a rewarding and fulfilling career. 

Serco is committed to Equal Employment Opportunities and is committed to ensuring the safety of all of its employees through its Zero Harm initiative. Please visit www.serco.com/careers for more information.