Director of Procurement & Contracts

About the position

Foreground is partnering with a high-growth Saudi engineering and project delivery group to appoint a process-driven and commercially sharp Director of Procurement & Contracts, based in Riyadh. With the organization managing multiple concurrent infrastructure, energy, and public works projects, the role is critical in bringing structure, transparency, and strategic oversight to procurement governance and contractual risk management.

Role Purpose

To lead and institutionalize the groups procurement and contracts function, building robust systems for vendor selection, contract administration, cost control, and compliance across major project portfolios, while aligning with both Saudi market dynamics and global sourcing strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and lead the group-wide procurement strategy, ensuring competitive sourcing, vendor diversification, and category management across core project materials and services.
• Oversee all commercial contract negotiations with suppliers, subcontractors, and service providers, ensuring alignment with project budgets, risk thresholds, and client obligations.
• Manage procurement planning in collaboration with project managers, engineering teams, and finance to support construction timelines and milestone-based execution.
• Ensure compliance with Saudi regulations, government procurement standards, and internal audit protocols.
• Develop strategic vendor partnerships, performance evaluation mechanisms, and supplier risk management frameworks.
• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of procurement systems and ERP integration (SAP or Oracle).
• Serve as the contract escalation point, managing claims, amendments, and resolution of disputes in collaboration with legal counsel.
• Build a high-performing procurement and contracts team capable of supporting high-speed, high-complexity projects across the Kingdom.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 12+ years of procurement and contracts experience in engineering, construction, or infrastructure delivery sectors, with at least 5 years in a leadership capacity.
• Proven track record of managing high-value procurement portfolios in Saudi Arabia, including local and international sourcing strategies.
• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or Business Administration; certifications such as PMP, CIPS, or MRICS preferred.
• Deep understanding of construction contract structures (e.g., FIDIC), local content requirements, and public-private procurement frameworks in the Kingdom.
• Experience integrating procurement practices with project controls, planning, and financial reporting systems.

Preferred Skills & Traits

• Commercially strategic and analytically rigorous.
• Effective negotiator and risk manager with a structured and methodical approach.
• Fluent in English; Arabic proficiency highly desirable for supplier and regulatory engagement.
• Respected leader capable of building systems and teams simultaneously.

Place of work