Head of Centralized Procurement

Mashreq

Responsibilities

• Procurement of all Products & Services falling within the ambit of Indirect Spend Category
• Procurement Policy (PP) review, revise, renew and re-communicate changes from time to time.
• Ensure it reflects adequate controls to ensure that Bank's money is only spent on authorized endeavors and duly influenced by CPD or at least an oversight on the spend.
• Set out the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Strategic Sourcing Units as well as Governance, Control and Operations Unit.
• Agree and finalize with Direct Reports the Strategy for short-term and long-term goals from time to time.
• Capture, collate and analyze the Spend information, Contracts Database and ensure opportunities are identified for cost save, optimum utilization, value addition, timely renewal, incorporating changes through various means at the command of Procurement Professionals.
• Ensure Bank can achieve sustainable commercial advantage through structured and consistent application of Policy, Controls and Oversight of third-party spends. Review all initiatives undertaken by CPD for quality, output, TAT, compliance etc.
• Carry out procurement activities as per PP for all third-party influenceable spend across geographies and entities to cover below broad categories:
  - Technology - Products, Services, Project & Testing Resources, Applications, Storage, Licenses, Software, AMCs etc.
  - Real Estate - Fit-out Projects, Premises-related soft services, Electrical & Mechanical Services, Miscellaneous Purchases, Asset Management, AMCs etc.
  - Business Services - Marketing (Creatives, Advertising, PR, Collaterals etc.), Management Consultancies, Cash in Transit, Training and Development, Events, Corporate Gifting, ATM Management, Product Insurance etc.
  - Corporate Services - Insurances (Health, Group, Directors Liability, Asset etc.), General Printing, Security Printing, Reprographics, Courier, Logistics, Staff Transport, Canteen Services, Stationery, Travel, Hotels, Conferences etc.
• Leverage AI-enabled spend analytics to continuously monitor vendor performance, pricing trends, and category-level cost opportunities.

Systems & Operations (including interaction with Compliance, Legal, Sanctions Unit, Risk Team, Technology, Accounts Payable and integrations with other Bank Systems)

• Ensure smooth operations for iProc (Requisition to Purchase Order).
• Exercise checks for each Requisition for correctness, appropriateness, exception approvals, CPD involvement and Controls.
• Align routing and inputs in the iProc System to ensure audit trail as well as MIS creation.
• Create, maintain, revise and share with the Team the Standard Templates including those for Vendor Contracts & Addendums.
• Manage, create, reconcile, revise and communicate with Users the Catalogues for repeatedly purchased goods/services.
• Provide inputs to Finance on the Delegation Authority Table and changes if any.
• For any procurement lifecycle managed manually, ensure it replicates structure, consistency, and governance.
• Integrate AI-powered exception tracking and process automation within iProc to identify anomalies, reduce cycle time, and enhance compliance accuracy.

Governance & Controls for Bank's compliance with Procurement and other related Policies like OPM, Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, Sanctions etc.

• Constantly review, reconcile and reinforce controls to ensure compliance and value-addition.
• Exercise governance on all procurement being carried out across entities, ensuring adherence to thresholds.
• Face recurrent audits/reviews and communicate lessons learned.
• Incorporate inputs from Legal, Compliance, Risk, and Sustainability teams.
• Deploy AI-based governance tools to detect irregularities, monitor exceptions, and ensure consistent adherence across global procurement cycles.

Third-Party Risk Management

• Assist Risk Management Team to create architecture for overall Third-Party Risk Management Framework.
• Allocate time, effort and expertise to operationalize the TPRM Framework for all vendors managed by CPD.
• Digitize the TPRM Framework to ensure inputs required by Risk Management Team are captured and reconciled.
• Ensure compliance across geographies.
• Integrate machine learning-based supplier risk scoring and automated alert systems to enhance early detection of vendor-related risks.

Implementation of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Agenda in Procurement Processes & Policies

• Align with ESG Guidelines issued by the Bank's Sustainability Team/CA Group.
• Incorporate elements of sustainable procurement in CPD operations.
• Collect, collate, and report data in line with agreed initiatives.
• Utilize AI-driven dashboards to monitor ESG-linked supplier performance and sustainability metrics in real time.

Digitalization of Procurement Processes for efficiency, transparency, and compliance

• Review and upgrade existing systems, evaluate options, and recommend for upgrades and approvals.
• Work with project teams to make the necessary changes and transition.
• Make the Procurement Process more attuned to reduction of errors, consistency, faster turnaround time, and ease of access.
• Embed predictive analytics and GenAI-based insights for demand forecasting, vendor benchmarking, and cost optimization.
• Implement AI-enabled dashboards to automate reporting, identify exceptions, and drive strategic decision-making.

Cost Savings, Demand Management, and Process Improvement

• Device, maintain, and replicate a consistent system of accurately calculating cost savings across categories.
• Align methodology with consultant recommendations.
• Take up demand management initiatives that lead to changes in consumption patterns.
• Leverage AI-powered spend analysis tools to forecast cost-saving opportunities and benchmark supplier pricing automatically.