Senior International Purchasing Officer

Role Overview

The Senior International Purchasing Officer will spearhead all international procurement functions, overseeing day-to-day sourcing of goods and materials from outside suppliers. This role involves crafting and implementing global purchasing strategies, analyzing market trends worldwide, and fostering supplier relationships to achieve cost efficiency and supply reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate and execute procurement strategies and plans that optimize sourcing of international goods and materials.
• Identify, assess, and cultivate partnerships with global suppliers and vendors.
• Lead negotiations on pricing, payment conditions, delivery timelines, and contracts with international suppliers to secure advantageous commercial terms.
• Develop and manage a comprehensive database of approved international suppliers and preferred vendors.
• Track global market fluctuations, price changes, availability, and supply dynamics to leverage sourcing opportunities and anticipate risks.
• Design and enforce purchasing procedures and systems to guarantee cost-effective and timely procurement.
• Collaborate with internal divisions such as Supply Chain, Planning, Finance, Logistics, and Operations to ensure cohesive international procurement workflows.
• Evaluate supplier performance on quality, cost, delivery, and reliability, and implement corrective measures as necessary.
• Analyze procurement expenses and market conditions to uncover savings and value enhancement possibilities.
• Work closely with logistics and relevant stakeholders to secure timely delivery of procured international goods.
• Anticipate potential international supply chain interruptions and establish contingency plans to mitigate risks.
• Assess suppliers based on their reliability, quality, cost competitiveness, capacity, lead times, and overall economic viability.
• Maintain strict compliance with procurement policies, procedures, and international purchasing regulations.
• Leverage procurement and inventory systems such as ASCON for monitoring purchase orders, supplier data, pricing, and procurement operations.
• Review buying requirements, sales forecasts, stock levels, and market trends to support informed sourcing decisions.
• Keep precise procurement documentation including contracts, orders, and supplier records.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by direct management.

Qualifications and Experience

A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Logistics, or related disciplines is required. Candidates should have over seven years of practical experience in international procurement, purchasing, or supply chain roles, ideally in multinational or manufacturing sectors.

Skills and Competencies

• Fluent communication skills in Arabic and English, both spoken and written.
• Expertise in negotiation and contract management handling international suppliers.
• Comprehensive understanding of international procurement standards, principles, and industry best practices.
• Extensive knowledge of supplier management, international sourcing, and purchasing lifecycle.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication capabilities.
• Ability to interpret market trends, pricing data, supplier performance, and cost structures.
• Proficiency with procurement technologies, especially ASCON software.
• Insight into supply chain logistics, inventory demands, and global purchasing activities.