Procurement Lead - PUA - VST

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Lead all procurement activities for the PUA VST corridor within the DMO, covering the full lifecycle of major transport infrastructure and systems contracts. The role is accountable for procurement strategy, planning, execution, governance, and supplier performance, ensuring value for money, transparency, and timely contract awards that enable successful delivery of the PUA VST program.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program-Level Procurement Strategy

• Develop, own, and continuously refine the procurement strategy for PUA VST within the DMO framework.

• Define sourcing strategies for key categories and work packages, including:

• Civil and structural works for the corridor

• Rail/road systems, signaling, telecoms, control systems, and rolling stock-related interfaces

• Transport buildings, depots, stations, and hubs

• Professional services (design, supervision, project management, specialist advisory)

• Align procurement plans with program objectives, funding constraints, risk appetite, and DMO governance.

• Prepare and maintain the PUA VST procurement master schedule, ensuring alignment with design, approvals, and delivery milestones.

2. End-to-End Procurement & Tender Management

• Lead pre-market engagement, industry briefings, and prequalification processes for major PUA VST contracts.

• Oversee development and quality assurance of all procurement documentation, including:

• Expressions of Interest and RFQs

• RFP / ITT documents and scopes of work

• Commercial conditions, pricing schedules, and evaluation criteria

• Manage the full tender cycle: issuing documents, handling clarifications, managing addenda, coordinating technical and commercial evaluations, and finalizing recommendations for award.

• Ensure all procurement processes are fair, traceable, and compliant with DMO policies and applicable regulations.

3. Contracting Strategy & Commercial Models

• Recommend appropriate contracting and commercial models for PUA VST packages (e.g. EPC, Design & Build, DBFM, PPP / concession, framework agreements).
• Work closely with legal, finance, risk, and technical teams within the DMO to develop balanced, robust contract terms and risk allocation.
• Lead commercial negotiations with bidders, reconciling technical, financial, and legal positions to secure optimal outcomes for the program.

4. Supplier Market & Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain a robust, competitive supplier base for PUA VST, including local and international contractors, systems suppliers, and consultants.
• Monitor market intelligence: price trends, capacity, supply chain risks, and innovation opportunities in the transport sector.
• Establish supplier performance frameworks, KPIs, and review mechanisms; drive continuous improvement, collaboration, and problem resolution with key suppliers.

5. Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

• Implement DMO procurement governance frameworks and controls on all PUA VST procurement activities.
• Ensure compliance with relevant public procurement laws, funding agency requirements, audit standards, and internal DMO procedures.
• Identify and manage procurement and commercial risks, integrating them into the program risk register and developing mitigation strategies.
• Produce concise, evidence-based procurement reports, evaluation summaries, and board papers for executive and steering committees.

6. Integration with DMO Program Delivery

• Coordinate closely with program management, design, engineering, planning, cost management, and construction teams to align procurement with:

• Design maturity and approvals

• Budget and cost plans

• Construction sequencing and operational readiness

• Support change management for PUA VST contracts, including procurement-related variations, claims, re-tendering, and contract amendments.

• Ensure procurement lead times and award dates support the critical path and key DMO delivery milestones.

7. Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Act as the principal procurement interface for PUA VST within the DMO
• Present procurement strategies, tender outcomes, and recommended awards to senior leadership and decision-making forums.
• Support approvals, consultations, and alignment with national/regional transport strategies and DMO-wide priorities.

8. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and mentor the PUA VST procurement team, including category leads, buyers, and analysts.

• Build capability in strategic sourcing, complex evaluation, negotiation, and contract management for major transport projects.

• Promote standardization, best practice, lessons learned, and continuous improvement across DMO procurement processes, tools, and templates.

• Bachelor s degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related discipline.

• Minimum 20 years of experience in procurement within the transport sector (rail, metro, highways, regional links, or multimodal networks).

• Demonstrable track record leading procurement on large-scale, multi-package transport programs or corridors.

• Extensive experience managing end-to-end procurement for high-value, complex infrastructure and systems contracts.

• Strong understanding of construction methodologies, rail/road systems, interfaces, and typical risk profiles in transport contracts.

• Regional experience in GCC / Middle East (Ideally Saudi Arabia) with knowledge of local procurement regulations and market dynamics.

• Master s degree in a relevant field (e.g. Project Management, Infrastructure Management, Supply Chain, Public Administration).

• Professional certification (e.g. CIPS, ISM, RICS, or equivalent).

• Experience with $PPP$ / concession structures and working with international financial institutions or public-sector clients.

• Strong commercial acumen and advanced negotiation capability.

• Deep knowledge of procurement methodologies, evaluation techniques, and standard forms of contract used in transport.

• Ability to manage multiple complex procurements concurrently in a program environment.

• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and presentation skills at executive and board level.

• High ethical standards, integrity, and commitment to transparent, auditable procurement.

• Strong analytical, risk-based decision-making, and reporting skills, with attention to detail and documentation quality.