Procurement Lead (Projects Category)

NES Fircroft are looking for a Procurement Lead to join a major operator in Sunbury, supporting a project in Iraq.

This role is accountable for supporting the Projects Procurement Category, responsible for managing engineering, construction and engineered equipment, ensuring procurement activity compliance to the Development and Production Contract, alignment to business priorities and compliance to the procurement procedures and contract governance.

This role reports to the Category Delivery Manager and acts as a procurement business partner for engineering, construction and engineered equipment. The role will engage with Legal, Finance, HSE, and the P&O functions to ensure seamless procurement delivery and contract management, compliant with internal policies, industry standards, and regulatory obligations. You will develop and implement robust category strategies for the Projects Procurement Category and will act as an interface to internal and external stakeholders. The right candidate needs to have strong commercial acumen, ensuring alignment on business goals and delivering secure, optimal, compliant, and competitive, risk-managed procurement outcomes. All business activities will need to be conducted in compliance with Iraqi laws and regulations, the Iraq Standard Contracting and Procurement Procedures (SCPP) and with Code of Conduct, Anti Bribery and Corruption and Anti Money Laundering policies.

ACTIVITIES

• The Procurement Lead for Projects Procurement Category is accountable for co-ordinating in-country procurement delivery for engineering, construction and engineered equipment for the project. The role will support interfaces between the incountry based team, JV partners and remote category teams to ensure alignment to business priorities and compliance to procurement procedures and contract governance. 
• The successful candidate will develop and implement the Projects Procurement Category strategy for the project in Iraq, maximise the value of third party spend, working with multi-discipline project teams and key suppliers to manage risks, seek innovation and add value to our MENA Growth projects.
• The role will work closely with our partners in NOC and NGC to establish the state of existing contracting and procurement ways of working, including the systems, processes, and resources that support the efficient sourcing of goods and services in support of Projects. 
• Supports category delivery of contract strategies, end-to-end sourcing and contracting, socialising relevant governance approvals and ensuring contracts are compliant to established contract standards and operationalized into project P2P systems.
• The role will deliver value through effective and efficient sourcing activity; using the provisions of Procurement procedures within boundaries of relevant laws and regulations, approved budgets and, where applicable, JV partner  agreements. 
• Support the development of Contracts and Procurement Plan (CPP) with demand data for assigned sub categories. 
• Conduct relevant due diligence processes and secure required approvals 
• Execute assigned sourcing activities typically including - development of bid packages, supporting bid proposal evaluation, providing analysis of results, and compiling recommendations to award to secure relevant internal and external approvals.
• Conduct/support contract negotiations to deliver value and manage risk to the business.
• Execute post-award contract management and administration as directed. This will involve resolution of queries, supporting timely supplier invoice approvals, processing and tracking supplier change requests, monitoring contract expiration dates and ensuring extensions or renewals are executed to support continuing service delivery to the business. 
• Support supplier performance management activities, such as, KPI tracking, PRMs and other activities intended to drive improvement with supplier performance. 
• Ensure Local Content obligations are considered and incorporated into the procurement decisions as required.
• Execute compliance activities including audit resolution as applicable. 
• Comply with all policies and procedures.
• You will work closely with technical and project management stakeholders to ensure products and services are delivered safely, to specification and in line with contractual agreements. 
• You will interface with JV partners and act as a point of contact for suppliers to support the category teams understanding of the Iraqi market.
• You will advocate for opportunities to partner, collaborate, develop, and strengthen relationships with contractors and suppliers. 
• Promotes compliance culture and psychological safety. Monitors and reacts to contractor safety and compliance related matters, provides input into investigations and implementation of appropriate actions. 
• Procurement delivery – Provides advice to the in-country delivery team on day-to-day procurement category operations.
• Provides oversight on supplier performance management or interventions, escalating to the relevant business stakeholders, as needed, to ensure timely resolution and prevent leakage. 
• Leads end-to-end sourcing initiatives including RFP development, bid evaluation, negotiation, and award recommendations, ensuring contracts deliver best value, mitigate risk, and align with company policies and local regulatory requirements.
• Unlocks value and deliver strong performance in line with category management policy. 
• Supports audits and cost recovery matters.

EXPERIENCE / QUALFICATIONS REQUIRED:

•  You will have a University degree in Procurement, Engineering or other business/technical discipline and CIPS professional chartership (or equivalent) is preferred
• Genuine passion for the Oil and Gas business and the supply chain
• Demonstrable track record of delivery in Projects Procurement, ideally related to oil and gas services with large capex or onshore scopes
• Knowledge in application of Procurement contracting, supplier management and Project execution
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with internal stakeholders across multiple disciplines, cultures and geographies, across the company and with suppliers
• Commercial mindset, analytical skills, and able to confidently negotiate large complex contracts and liaise with all levels of stakeholders
• Strong business acumen to unlock value, track record of collaboration, able to deliver agile solutions to the business, try new ways of working and displays a growth mindset
• Previous work experience in the Oil and Gas sector and working in Iraq or supporting Iraq based businesses
• Strong understanding of regional requirements, planning / execution processes and experience dealing with PSA/TSC/concessionaire approvals
• Excellent communicator who demonstrates an ability to develop, high quality, trust-based relationships with the wider organization
• Track record bringing multiple parties together to collaboratively solve complex problems Able to work under pressure to initiate actions, prioritise and support decision making, skilled at fostering alignment among senior stakeholders with competing priorities
• Excellent communicator with demonstrated ability to influence, collaborate and lead teams through complexity, develop capability

Please note that only applicants eligible to work in the UK will be considered.



With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.