Job description

Category Lead - Contingent Labour Procurement Basra, Iraq | 28/28 Rotational Assignment
Are you an experienced Procurement and Category Management professional with a strong background in Contingent Labour and Professional Services? We are seeking a talented Category Lead to join a major international oil and gas operation in Basra, Iraq, supporting one of the world's largest producing oil fields.
Producing approximately 1.4 million barrels of oil per day, this large-scale operation employs several thousand Iraqi personnel alongside a substantial expatriate workforce and is focused on continued production growth. As part of the Procurement & Supply Chain Management (PSCM) team, you will play a critical role in delivering safe, compliant, reliable, and commercially competitive supply chain solutions that enable operational success.
The Opportunity Reporting to the Indirect Procurement Category Delivery Manager, the Category Lead will be responsible for leading end-to-end procurement and contracting activities across the Contingent Labour category. This includes category strategy development, sourcing, supplier selection, contract negotiation, implementation, supplier performance management, and ongoing contract governance.
Working closely with stakeholders across the Iraq business, including senior leadership up to VP level, you will ensure procurement strategies are aligned with operational objectives while identifying and delivering measurable value opportunities.
Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of procurement and contracting activities within the Contingent Labour category.
• Develop and execute category strategies that support business objectives and operational delivery.
• Manage sourcing events, RFx processes, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and contract awards.
• Obtain required governance approvals and ensure compliance with contracting standards and procurement policies.
• Drive supplier performance through effective contract and vendor management.
• Identify and realise cost savings and value enhancement opportunities through strategic cost management methodologies.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of regional supply markets and industry trends.
• Support Contract Accountable Managers (CAMs) in managing supplier relationships and commercial issues.
• Monitor procurement KPIs and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage vendor performance against agreed SLAs and drive documented resolution of performance issues.
• Provide commercial and contractual support to operational teams.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Procurement, HR, Operations, and Professional Services functions.
• Support the development and coaching of Basra Oil Company (BOC) personnel and local Iraqi agency colleagues.
• Champion Health, Safety, Environment (HSE) standards, ethical conduct, and company values.

• Minimum 8 years' experience in Procurement and Category Management with significant exposure to Contingent Labour sourcing and contracting.
• Demonstrated experience managing sourcing, contracting, supplier performance, and commercial negotiations across indirect procurement categories.
• Strong understanding of Middle East procurement markets and regional labour requirements.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and collaborate effectively in complex, multicultural environments.
• Strong commercial acumen and a track record of delivering procurement value and continuous improvement.
• Experience identifying and mitigating supply chain risks.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage ambiguity, and deliver results under pressure.
• Experience with procurement systems such as SAP, Maximo, Ariba OneSource, or similar P2P platforms.
• Knowledge of workforce management systems such as Fieldglass.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills.

• Previous experience supporting major projects in the Middle East.
• Oil & Gas, Energy, Infrastructure, or large-scale Industrial sector experience.
• Experience working within international or remote operational environments.
• UK-based or in-country experience within Indirect Procurement environments.

• High-profile role supporting a world-class energy operation.
• Direct influence on critical business and production objectives.
• Exposure to senior stakeholders across a complex international organisation.
• Opportunity to drive strategic sourcing initiatives and deliver significant commercial value.
• Rotational 28 days on / 28 days off working pattern based in Basra, Iraq.