About the Role The Procurement Research, Innovation & IT Supervisor is responsible for supervising the execution of category management and sourcing activities across KFUPM's IT, research, technology, research & laboratory, and related spend profiles. The role converts the approved category strategy and procurement plan into a controlled sourcing pipeline, provides day-to-day direction and quality assurance to Category Buyers, and partners with end users, IT, research and technical stakeholders to deliver compliant, timely and value-focused procurement outcomes. The Supervisor ensures sourcing activities are performed in line with the Supply Chain Policy, procedures, Delegation of Authority and Oracle-based systems, escalating material commercial, risk or stakeholder matters to the Director.
Accountabilities Category Strategy Deployment & Procurement Planning Translate the IT & Research category strategy into prioritised sourcing plans, demand forecasts and activity pipelines aligned with approved budgets, project timelines and stakeholder requirements. Maintain category intelligence on demand, supply markets, technology trends, vendor capability, risk and total cost of ownership; identify opportunities to standardise specifications, aggregate demand and improve value. Sourcing Execution & Commercial Oversight Supervise end-to-end sourcing activities undertaken by Category Buyers, including PR review, sourcing route selection, pre-qualification, RFx development, bidder management, commercial evaluation, negotiation, award recommendation and purchase order or contract handover. Review sourcing packs for completeness, commercial robustness, procedural compliance and appropriate approvals before submission to the relevant governance forum. Team Supervision & Quality Assurance Allocate work, set priorities and coach Category Buyers to ensure responsive service, consistent quality, accurate records and adherence to agreed SLAs. Review workload, cycle time, sourcing pipeline and exceptions; resolve operational issues and escalate capacity, commercial or control risks to the Director. Stakeholder & Supplier Coordination Act as the operational procurement partner to IT, research, academic and technical stakeholders, clarifying requirements, timelines, specifications and evaluation approaches. Coordinate with Vendor Management and Contract Management on supplier eligibility, performance information, contractual risks and post-award handover. Reporting & Continuous Improvement Maintain accurate sourcing, pipeline, savings and compliance data in Oracle and approved trackers; provide timely category performance updates to the Director. Identify and implement practical improvements to sourcing tools, templates, work practices and stakeholder engagement.
Policies, Processes and Procedures Supply Chain Policy Supply Chain Procedures Delegation of Authority Company-specific policies and procedures as required
Qualifications and Education Bachelor's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or equivalent is required Further specialised education in the field would be considered advantageous CIPS / CSCP certification is a plus
Professional Experience5-8 years of experience in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, or Procurement Demonstrated experience procuring IT, technology, research & laboratory equipment & consumables, software, or related categories Experience supervising, coaching or providing quality oversight to procurement staff is advantageous Prior experience in a University, Government, or large institutional procurement environment is advantageous
Technical Competencies / Skills and Languages Fluent in both English & Arabic Category Strategy Deployment - IT & Research Strategic Sourcing and Commercial Negotiation Technology and Research Procurement Demand Forecasting and Procurement Planning Team Supervision and Quality Assurance Stakeholder Collaboration and Coordination Supplier Relationship and Performance Management Documentation, Reporting and Governance Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills Attention to Detail and Accuracy ERP or database system knowledge and experience - preferably Oracle Fusion Time management and organisation skills Procurement and Supply Chain