Vice President Category Management

The Vice President of Category Management is a strategic executive responsible for leading both strategic and transactional procurement across Abu Dhabi Airports (ADA) and its subsidiaries. The role drives enterprise-wide sourcing strategies, category planning, supplier relationship management, and procurement transformation initiatives. The VP ensures procurement delivers measurable value through revenue generation, cost optimization, innovation, ESG alignment, risk mitigation, and operational excellence. The position plays a critical leadership role in transforming procurement into a strategic business partner through data-driven decision-making, digital enablement, and stakeholder collaboration.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

• Develop and execute a comprehensive category management strategy aligned with corporate objectives, ESG priorities, and operational needs.
• Lead procurement transformation into a strategic business partner.
• Establish and communicate KPIs for procurement performance and supplier value delivery.
• Develop and execute annual procurement planning in coordination with business stakeholders and in line with agreed SLAs.

Budget Management

• Develop and manage the departmental and procurement budget.
• Monitor spend under management and identify cost optimization and value creation opportunities.
• Guide direct reports on budget optimization initiatives.
• Ensure alignment with financial goals and cost-saving targets.

Procurement Operations & Category Management

• Oversee departmental performance in line with the operational plan.
• Lead annual spend analysis across direct and indirect categories.
• Develop and implement category strategies using market intelligence, supplier segmentation, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models.
• Oversee sourcing events, RFPs, and tendering processes ensuring competitive and risk-mitigated outcomes.
• Drive supplier innovation and joint business planning.
• Integrate digital procurement tools and analytics.
• Execute transactional sourcing as required.
• Support stakeholders in defining sourcing requirements and scope of work.

Supplier Relationship & Risk Management

• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships through structured governance and performance scorecards.
• Lead contract negotiations ensuring legal, regulatory, and ethical compliance.
• Manage supplier risks through monitoring, contingency planning, and sustainability initiatives.

Governance & Compliance

• Develop and maintain departmental policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with HR, legal, risk, quality assurance, and organizational frameworks.
• Support audits and implement corrective actions where necessary.
• Lead proactive measures to address compliance concerns.

Performance & Transformation

• Drive change management initiatives and stakeholder communication.
• Champion procurement excellence through continuous improvement and automation.
• Support digital transformation and AI-enabled sourcing initiatives.
• Monitor procurement performance using dashboards, scorecards, and reporting tools.

People Management

• Lead and develop a high-performing procurement team.
• Promote Emiratization and talent development through training and succession planning.
• Conduct performance evaluations and align individual goals with departmental objectives.

Professional Development & Other Duties

• Pursue ongoing professional development aligned with organizational values.
• Participate in performance appraisals and implement feedback.
• Promote a safety-first culture and support HSE compliance.
• Implement corrective actions based on audit findings.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to achieve divisional objectives.

Requirements and Skills

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field (required).
• Master’s degree or MBA (preferred), especially in Procurement, Operations, or Strategy.
• Professional certifications such as CIPS, ISM CPSM, or CPP are advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management.
• At least 8 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven track record in enterprise-wide procurement transformation, including digitalization and process optimization.
• Experience managing large-scale spend portfolios across direct and indirect categories.
• Strong background in contract negotiation, supplier relationship management, and risk mitigation.
• Familiarity with e-procurement platforms (e.g., Oracle Fusion) and data analytics tools.

Key Competencies & Skills

• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Advanced negotiation, communication, and influencing skills.
• Deep expertise in category planning, TCO modeling, and market intelligence.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive change management.
• Capability to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical and performance management skills.
• High level of integrity and governance orientation.