Senior Procurement Specialist

About the Role

Zad Foods is seeking an experienced and commercially driven Procurement & Sourcing Supervisor to lead sourcing activities, supplier negotiations, purchasing operations, and supply chain coordination. This full-time position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with responsibilities extending to Hawtat Sudair. The role requires a professional with 2-5 years of experience in a food manufacturing environment.

Role Overview

The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying competitive suppliers, securing cost-effective purchasing agreements, and ensuring the timely availability of raw materials and packaging. This includes maintaining compliance with applicable Saudi import and food safety regulations. The role demands strong analytical skills, ERP expertise, and effective collaboration with production, quality, warehousing, and logistics teams to optimize purchasing costs and ensure uninterrupted production.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and benchmark local, GCC, and international suppliers for dry food raw materials and primary/secondary packaging.
• Develop alternative sourcing channels to reduce supplier dependency and minimize supply chain risks.
• Monitor commodity prices, freight costs, and import lead times to optimize purchasing decisions.
• Lead supplier negotiations on pricing, minimum order quantities, payment terms, lead times, and volume discounts.
• Manage the end-to-end Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) process through the ERP system, including purchase requisitions, purchase orders, and supplier invoice coordination.
• Convert Material Requirements Planning (MRP) outputs into approved purchase orders.
• Coordinate with freight forwarders, shipping companies, and customs brokers for timely import clearance and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with Production, Plant Operations, R&D, and Quality Assurance teams to confirm material specifications and facilitate sample testing.
• Participate in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) meetings to align procurement plans with demand forecasts and production capacity.

Qualifications and Experience

• 2-5 years of experience in procurement and sourcing, preferably within a food manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and commercial negotiations.
• Proficiency in ERP systems for managing the Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) process.
• Understanding of Saudi import and food safety regulations.
• Strong analytical skills for optimizing purchasing decisions and identifying cost-saving opportunities.

Required Skills

• Ability to identify, evaluate, and benchmark suppliers effectively.
• Strong negotiation skills for securing favorable terms and agreements.
• Capability to manage supply chain operations and coordinate with various stakeholders.
• Excellent cross-functional coordination and communication skills.
• Proactive approach to resolving potential supply disruptions and maintaining material availability.

Work Environment

This full-time position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with responsibilities that include coordination with operations in Hawtat Sudair. The role involves working closely with various internal teams, including Production, Quality Assurance, Warehousing, Logistics, and R&D, within a dynamic food manufacturing setting.