Purchasing Director

Position Name: Purchasing Director One of our clients in the FMCG industry is looking for a Purchasing Director to lead their end-to-end purchasing strategy across fresh produce, dry goods, dairy, frozen, household and personal care. This role is commercially critical: assortment differentiation, supplier reliability and purchase cost directly determine gross margins and customer experience. This is not a traditional office-based procurement role focused only on distributors and negotiation. The role requires a strong field-oriented sourcing mindset with direct exposure to local farms, artisanal producers, homegrown brands, micro-manufacturers and independent suppliers. The ideal candidate should operate as a market seeker: spending approximately 70% of time in the market and 30% in the office . Department: Purchasing Reports to: General Manager Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent Preferred Nationality / Visa: Saudi preferred due to local market alignment and localization requirements; exceptional non-Saudi profiles considered Direct Reports: Purchasing Assistant KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Define and execute purchasing strategy across all categories for the Jeddah dark store. Build supplier portfolio across KSA while prioritising SMEs. Scout artisanal and niche producers, farms, family businesses and specialty makers. Negotiate pricing, payment terms, rebates and exclusivities. Coordinate replenishment and stock planning. Monitor sell-through and purchasing volumes. Conduct supplier performance reviews. Onboard suppliers with SFDA documentation verification. Identify seasonal opportunities and promotional stock. Benchmark premium retailers locally and internationally. REQUIREMENTS Education: Bachelor's in Business, Supply Chain, Economics or related. CIPS is an advantage. Experience 7+ years in purchasing / procurement / category management. Minimum 3 years in FMCG / grocery / e-commerce in Saudi Arabia. Strong supplier network in Jeddah and KSA. Proven direct sourcing from local producers. Technical Skills Odoo, SAP or equivalent ERP. Demand forecasting. Excel analysis and dashboards. SFDA compliance. Supplier contract management. Soft Skills Negotiation. Commercial acumen. Entrepreneurial mindset. Arabic fluent; English business proficiency. Startup agility. WORKING CONDITIONS Saturday – Thursday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Frequent supplier visits across Jeddah and wider Saudi Arabia On-site with regular sourcing travel