Partner Relations Lead -Procurement

Role Purpose

The Partner Relations Lead is responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with the NEOM Media Production team and production supply partners to optimise performance, quality, cost, and delivery. Leads the development and execution of multi-year procurement planning for Production, aligning with the sector's overall procurement strategy. Supports the tracking and management of the Production budget implementation plan execution, identifying opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements. Manages the relationship with shared services Procurement for sourcing packages, ensuring that sourcing is aligned with the company's procurement strategy and objectives.

Collaborates with cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements, execute cost optimization initiatives, and develop logistics and asset management solutions. Supports the development and execution of improvement projects while ensuring compliance with NEOM policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities And Activities

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary Business Partner for all production partner relations activity (suppliers, partners), building and maintaining strong relationships with key partners to ensure optimal performance, quality, cost, and delivery.
• Lead the development of multi-year procurement strategy for Production, aligning with the sector's overall procurement strategy, and implementing policies and procedures to support it.
• Review and support Production development of comprehensive scopes of work, ensuring that they are clear, complete, and aligned with business objectives.
• Support tracking and management of Production budget and implementation plan execution, working closely with finance and Production teams to ensure accurate and timely reporting and forecasting.
• Support the development of annual zero-based budget and implementation plans, identifying opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements.
• Create and manage Production annual procurement plan, ensuring that it aligns with the broader procurement strategy and is consistent with business objectives.
• Act as a Business Partner to Production leadership team, providing guidance and support on all procurement-related matters, and advocating for the Procurement function within Production.
• Lead supplier relationship management and development for Production, including supporting the development and implementation of a supplier relationship management program, supplier sourcing, and interaction with the MEC BD team.
• Develop and implement production supplier risk management program, identifying and mitigating supplier risks to ensure continuity of supply.
• Collaborate with Contract Management for contract-related matters, ensuring that all contracts are consistent with company policies and procedures and protect the company's interests.
• Execute production cost optimization initiatives, identifying and implementing cost-saving opportunities across all procurement categories.
• Support production in logistics and asset management solutions, ensuring efficient and effective management of production assets and materials.
• Support development and execution of improvement projects, working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements.
• Manage the relationship with Procurement for sourcing packages, ensuring that sourcing is aligned with the company's procurement strategy and objectives, and that sourcing activities are conducted in a transparent, ethical, and efficient manner.

COMPETANCIES, Skills & Knowledge

Communication Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

Ownership / Accountability / Dependability

• Able to determine the actions, risks and end results required to get the job done.
• Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances.

Analytical Skills / Problem Solving / Decision Making

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to gather and analyze data to inform project decisions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and techniques - able to understand and carry out budget and spend analysis; draw out conclusions and fact-based decision making from this.

Expertise and Technical Knowledge

• Project management: The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Risk management: Experience in identifying and mitigating supplier risks, with the ability to develop and implement supplier risk management programs.
• Financial acumen: A solid understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis, with the ability to track and manage Production budgets and implementation plans.
• Relationship management: The ability to build and maintain strong relationships with production partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders, and to serve as a trusted Business Partner to Production leadership team.
• Procurement and supply chain management: A strong understanding of procurement best practices and supply chain management, with the ability to develop and implement procurement strategies, manage supplier relationships, and optimize costs.

IT Skills

• Advanced user of Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems, especially SAP, ORACLE and similar.

Leadership

• Lead by example, promoting the highest standards of conduct, integrity and probity.

Innovation

• Ability to think about and suggest ideas, which add value to the project completion

Planning Skills

• Ability to plan deliverables, milestone and sign-off points.
• Ability to schedule and monitor activities to achieve organizational goals.

Influencing / Negotiation

• Recognizes when to use different negotiation approaches and builds trusting relationships when resolving conflicts.
• Successfully achieves results through persuasion and confident communication. Develops trust and uses logic, reasoning and bargaining strategies to gain commitment with internal and external stakeholders.

BACKGROUND, QUALIFICATIONS & Experience,

Qualifications:

• Degree educated or equivalent
• Procurement Qualification (e.g. CIPS, equivalent or relevant Masters)

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in Procurement organizations with at least 2 years applicable experience in project procurement.
• International and Middle East experience advantageous.

Other requirements:

• Fluency in English.
• (Arabic is advantageous but not essential)

MAIN Stakeholder CONTACT Points

Internal

External

• Sector Heads/Executive Directors
• Project Managers
• Divisional Directors
• Supplier Relationship Management Department
• Procurement team and other department and teams across NEOM
• Contractors, Consultants, Suppliers and all Vendors of external organizations.