Purchasing Specialist

Role Overview

Subsea 7 is seeking a Purchasing Specialist for an Oil & Gas project in Al Khobar, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. The role focuses on sourcing materials and services assigned by the Project SCM Manager and ensuring delivery meets the project’s technical, safety, budget, schedule, quality, and contractual expectations.

This position also supports procurement activities for the local KSA office. It is a contract assignment filled through a third-party agency, with an expected duration of 3 to 6 months.

Key Responsibilities

• Build the bidder shortlist using the company’s and Subsea 7’s approved supplier lists, aligned with the project’s SCM strategy.
• Send RFQs to bidders through SAP Ariba.
• Review commercial and contractual terms, assess bid schedules, and incorporate technical inputs from Engineering, QA, QC, and HSE to complete the bid summary and recommend suitable options to the Project SCM Manager.
• Negotiate commercially to secure the most favourable outcome for Subsea 7.
• Prepare the Supplier Commitment Approval and route it for Budget Holder review and sign-off.
• Obtain PR approval and create PO requests in SAP, then secure PO approval.
• Lead vendor kick-off meetings when needed and clearly communicate award instructions, documentation requirements, and administration steps.
• Track supplier documentation, monitor the Supplier Documentation Register, and follow up on overdue items.
• Coordinate inspection requests with the project QC engineer and the client where required by the ITP; monitor inspection progress, ensure reports are received and reviewed, and send findings back to suppliers.
• Join expediting meetings and site/vendor visits as required and ensure minutes of meeting are issued.
• Monitor delivery progress, alert the Project SCM Manager about any risk of delay, and support recovery planning.
• Review project correspondence and take required actions in a timely manner.
• Maintain the register of supplier technical queries and deviations and drive their closure.
• Follow up on the preparation, review, and approval of supplier documentation.
• Manage change order requests, including negotiation and approval steps.
• Take responsibility for on-time, within-budget, and quality-compliant delivery of awarded materials, services, and documents.
• Ensure all prerequisites are met before releasing goods and triggering material receipt in SAP.
• Prepare shipment papers and share them with the transit agent, while maintaining close coordination to accelerate release of goods.
• Review supplier invoices and the final account, and secure the supplier close-out certificate.
• Collect supplier feedback and complete performance evaluations after work completion.

Experience and Qualifications

• A degree in Engineering, Business, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• At least 5 years of supply chain management experience, including vendor qualification, RFQ issuance, purchase order processing, order follow-up, and PO close-out.
• Exposure to Aramco-related products and services is considered an advantage.
• Ability to understand technical discussions and evaluate their commercial and schedule impact, even though technical problem-solving sits with the Technical Owner.
• A strong focus on cost savings and the confidence to challenge requests where appropriate.
• Good understanding of offshore operations, complex items, and industry-specific requirements.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work well with multiple stakeholders.

Additional Information

This role is part of a contract engagement arranged through a third-party agency and is intended for a period of 3 to 6 months.