Senior Specialist - Procurement

About the Role
The company is seeking a Senior Specialist - Procurement to support our growing family of schools in the United Arab Emirates. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled professional to join the highly successful family of schools and help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group.
Since its inception in 2007 with just 250 students, the company has grown into a highly sought-after education provider, with more than 25 owned and managed premium and super-premium schools and academies in partnership with prestigious institutions including Rugby School, King’s College Wimbledon, and Cranleigh. The Group now serves over 38,000 students through 5,000 educators from more than 100 nationalities to deliver world-class education across a broad range of curricula and learning pathways from nursery through to K12.
At the company, our impact goes far beyond the classroom: we are proud to contribute to the UAE’s vision for a sustainable, knowledge-based economy through premium education. With this in mind, we hire educators and industry professionals who not only embody our values and cultural ethos but also bring a genuine passion for education—qualities central to our mission of shaping the leaders of tomorrow. If you are passionate about excellence and ready to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to apply and be part of our journey.

Responsibilities
Main Duties

• Managing and controlling all the company’s external suppliers with particular emphasis on the commercial terms and conditions of each purchase.
• Ensure goods and services are bought at the most competitive price and delivered on time.
• Establish strategic relationships with key suppliers who are aligned with the company’s needs.
• Identifies new suppliers, agrees terms, and negotiates supply agreements where appropriate, including discount structures and volume rebates.
• Fosters close working relationships with associated departments e.g. Education, Finance, IT, and Operations.
• Responsible for ensuring that all items related to schools are procured in a timely manner, in line with the purchasing policy.
• Follow up with both the vendor and the school to ensure that all requested items have been delivered by the vendor and received in full by the school.
• Implement and monitor several framework agreements, assessing the vendor’s performance and helping to troubleshoot any problematic areas that arise.
• Tender key specialist areas, ensuring that they have effectively captured the organization’s requirements, established competitive rates, and commercial terms in line with each individual school’s requirements.
• Negotiate contracts for the procurement of goods and services from approved suppliers, establishes strategies to improve supply chain, solves shortage issues, and strengthens supplier relationships.
• Plan, schedule, and monitor the delivery of goods and services to our schools.
• Possess in-depth knowledge of ERP Platforms (Oracle).
• Prepare and raise purchase orders and order schedules.
• Expedite orders as necessary, proactively identify potential delivery problems.
• Perform supplier audits, supplier selection, and ongoing rating in tandem with End User Departments.
• Conduct spend analysis and provide actionable insights.

Specific Duties

• Prepare award presentations for Tender Committee approvals.
• Continually assess market conditions which may affect procurement and recommend procurement management strategy changes.
• Control, manage, and process incoming freight and logistics.
• Develop and maintain an effective vendor database for procuring various services, equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Obtain competitive price quotes through the preparation and implementation of formal request for quotation.
• Negotiate procurement details with vendors; provide and coordinate product and service trial periods or demonstrations as required; recommend the most appropriate and cost-effective alternatives, and maintain current knowledge of new products and services.
• Assist departments in the evaluation of goods and services; ensure that customers’ expectations and requirements are met; resolve conflicts concerning materials or services.
• Evaluate and monitor procurement requisitions for proper authorization, specifications, and legal compliance; create and review purchase orders; research and resolve receiving and accounts payable issues; maintain files related to purchase orders and purchasing; maintain other department files including those pertaining to vendors, bids, quotes, and correspondence.
• Undertake additional duties as required by the Line Manager appropriate.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum graduate-level degree or related Procurement Specific qualification.
• CIPS certification would be an added value.

Minimum Experience

• A minimum of 6 years’ experience in procurement within the region (Education Sector preferred).
• Knowledge of modern purchasing methods, strategic procurement practices, and data analytics.
• Working experience in an ERP environment.
• Knowledge of purchasing/procurement concepts, processes, activities, and trends.
• Fluent English communication skills, written and oral. Arabic language skills are an added value.
• Attention to detail with diligent follow-up, and ability to execute tasks in a timely manner.
• Skilled in multi-tasking and handling pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• General knowledge of agreement terms and conditions.
• Proficiency in procurement software and tools (e.g. SAP, Oracle).
• Strong ability to negotiate terms, prices, and other critical contract elements.
• Ability to analyze and interpret procurement metrics and KPIs.

What We Offer
The company is a family of world-class, child-centered, and innovative schools based in the UAE, educating over 34,000 students across our group of owned and managed schools. As we grow, so does our need for highly skilled, inspirational, and dedicated school leaders. We offer an attractive remuneration package including medical cover, flights, housing, and free child school places. Our future-focused learning model includes both students and staff, placing a special emphasis on professional development, coaching, and training. Successful candidates will have access to a wide network of professionals and opportunities to lead and contribute to training others as well as develop themselves.
The company is keen to hear from like-minded, forward-thinking school leaders who welcome the challenges and opportunities that we have to offer.
This job description is not all-inclusive. The company reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment, and encourage UAE Nationals to apply.
The company is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.