About the Role: Responsibilities, Skills, and Requirements
Ever wondered how the world’s favorite dates make their journey from palm to package? As our next Purchasing Manager, you’ll be right at the heart of that process—steering vital sourcing decisions that shape both our products and our partnerships. This is a unique opportunity to join a well-established company in the date manufacturing and packaging sector, right here in Abu Dhabi. If you’re passionate about building strong supplier relationships and love the challenge of optimizing costs without compromising quality, you might just find your next professional home with us.
About the Company
We’re more than just a manufacturer—we see ourselves as stewards of a proud tradition. Our team is passionate about delivering the highest quality dates to markets near and far, blending time-honored practices with modern efficiency. At our Abu Dhabi headquarters, you’ll find a collaborative spirit and a genuine appreciation for initiative. We celebrate wins together (often with a box of our own best), and Friday lunch breaks sometimes turn into impromptu taste tests. Growth and innovation aren’t just buzzwords here—they’re our way of life.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Develop and execute annual purchasing strategies that align with production forecasts and evolving market demands.
- Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with new and existing suppliers, always balancing quality, cost, and reliability.
- Build long-term, trust-based relationships with suppliers—think of yourself as both a partner and a negotiator.
- Monitor market trends and raw material costs, providing insights to production and finance teams.
- Manage supplier performance, including regular reviews, audits, and feedback sessions.
- Collaborate closely with our production and quality assurance teams to ensure materials meet rigorous standards.
- Resolve supply chain issues swiftly—think of yourself as the team’s go-to problem solver when things get sticky.
- Oversee the purchasing budget, always seeking opportunities for savings without cutting corners.
- Prepare detailed reports and analysis for senior management, highlighting trends, risks, and opportunities.
What You’ll Bring
Must-Haves:
- Proven experience as a Purchasing Manager (ideally in manufacturing, food, or FMCG sectors).
- Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
- Solid understanding of supply chain processes and best practices.
- Analytical mindset—comfortable with data, budgets, and forecasting.
- Excellent communication skills (English required; Arabic a plus).
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
Nice-to-Haves:
- Experience sourcing agricultural or food products.
- Familiarity with ERP and procurement systems.
- Previous work in the Middle East region.
Not sure you tick every box? We’d still love to hear from you.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
- Competitive salary and performance bonuses.
- Comprehensive health insurance for you and your family.
- Supportive, team-oriented culture—where your ideas are truly valued.
- Opportunities for professional development and career growth.
- Centrally located Abu Dhabi headquarters, with onsite parking and daily staff meals.
- The occasional box of premium dates with your name on it (literally).
We’re proud of our heritage, excited for our future, and genuinely invested in helping our team members thrive. If you’re ready to make an impact where quality and tradition meet innovation, we hope you’ll consider joining us.
Common Interview Questions and Tips
To help you prepare and feel confident, here are some questions you might encounter during the interview process for this role.
- Can you walk us through your approach to developing and implementing a purchasing strategy for a manufacturing operation, particularly in the food or FMCG sector?
- Tell us about a time you successfully negotiated a contract with a supplier that balanced cost savings with maintaining high quality standards. What was your strategy?
- How do you stay informed about market trends and fluctuations in raw material costs, and how have you used that information to inform purchasing decisions?
- What experience do you have sourcing agricultural or food products, and what unique challenges or considerations have you faced in this area?
- Describe your experience with ERP or procurement systems. How have these tools improved your efficiency or decision-making in past roles?
- When managing supplier performance, what key metrics do you focus on, and how do you handle underperformance or non-compliance issues?
- Give us an example of a situation where you had to resolve a supply chain disruption quickly. How did you approach the problem and what was the outcome?
- How do you ensure effective collaboration with production and quality assurance teams to guarantee that purchased materials consistently meet required standards?
- Share a time when you prepared a detailed purchasing report or analysis for senior management. What insights did you highlight, and how did your recommendations impact the business?
- This is a fast-paced, multicultural workplace. How have you adapted your communication or leadership style to work successfully with diverse teams in the past?
- Building long-term, trust-based relationships with suppliers is key here. What steps do you take to foster these partnerships while still protecting the company’s interests?
- Our company values initiative and celebrates team achievements. Can you describe a time when you contributed to a positive team culture or helped introduce an innovative idea?
- How do you balance the pressure to reduce costs with the need to uphold our tradition of quality and product excellence?
- What excites you most about joining a company that blends traditional values with a drive for innovation in the food manufacturing space?