Chief Specialist – Vendor affairs (UAE National)

To lead and manage the supplier pre-qualification process across the organization, ensuring full alignment with sustainability principles, Health, Environment, and Safety (HES) standards, and procurement risk mitigation strategies. This role is critical to ensuring that vendors meet RTA’s operational, ethical, and strategic criteria—helping shape a resilient, sustainable, and compliant supply base.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement robust supplier pre-qualification frameworks in accordance with RTA procurement policies, legal regulations, and strategic objectives.
• Lead the end-to-end pre-qualification lifecycle: documentation review, vendor assessments, committee approvals, and classification.
• Conduct vendor capability analysis using the Vendor Positioning Model, and identify strategic suppliers for critical procurement categories.
• Ensure vendors meet sustainability and HES criteria, in collaboration with relevant departments; promote green procurement practices and environmentally responsible sourcing.
• Identify vendor risks; coordinate with Security, Compliance, and HSE departments to evaluate background, performance, and integrity. Develop risk mitigation plans for high-risk vendors.
• Prepare pre-qualification plans in advance of major tenders to detect supply gaps, limited competition, or potential vendor shortages.
• Collaborate with sourcing teams to expand the supplier base, especially in underrepresented or emerging categories.
• Deliver periodic pre-qualification reports to senior management, outlining vendor compliance levels, risks, sustainability alignment, and strategic recommendations.
• Provide data analytics and vendor insights to support procurement planning and category strategy development.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Critical Competencies

• Leadership & Influence across cross-functional teams
• Effective communication and stakeholder engagement
• Customer-focused service orientation
• Initiative and responsiveness to emerging procurement needs

• Vendor Pre-Qualification Expertise
• Sustainability & Green Procurement Compliance
• Strategic Vendor Management & Analysis
• Vendor Risk Profiling and Mitigation
• ISO, HES, and regulatory frameworks

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master’s degree preferred in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in vendor evaluation, procurement operations, or supplier risk management.
• Strong knowledge of pre-qualification systems, ISO standards, green procurement, and HES compliance.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to assess supplier risk and performance objectively.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, ERP systems, and analytics tools.
• Effective communicator, capable of preparing detailed reports and presenting to executive stakeholders.
• Team-oriented leader who motivates and trains staff to high-performance standards.
• Skilled at managing multiple concurrent projects with attention to detail and timelines.
• Demonstrated success in applying sustainability and regulatory compliance in supplier selection processes.
• Experience working in government or large-scale infrastructure sectors is a plus.