SOCAR Head Office is seeking a Head of Procurement Category for the following categories within the Procurement Category Management Department:

1. IT(Hardware and Software)
2. Electrical/Automation
3. Chemical/Reagents

• Lead the annual procurement plan for the assigned category aligning with SOCAR’s goals, budget and operational plans;
• Work closely with SOCAR entities, technical teams, project managers and finance to gather forecasts and requirements;
• Develop and maintain a category roadmap linking procurement to strategic goals and supplier development;
• Identify risks, opportunities and procurement needs during planning;
• Prioritize procurement projects based on criticality, risk and value;
• Ensure tendering, supplier engagement and contract awards align with the plan;
• Track progress and update stakeholders on procurement activities;
• Report procurement performance, savings and KPIs to leadership;
• Facilitate annual review meetings to align on priorities, challenges and sourcing strategies;
• Ensure approval and communication of strategies and procurement plans;
• Conduct market analysis to identify risks, opportunities and new suppliers.

• Higher education in SCM, BA, Economics or related field;
• 10 years of relevant experience, 5 years in a managerial role in large enterprises (Oil&Gas preferred);
• Strong understanding of category-specific technical, commercial and supply chain dynamics;
• Experience in category development, supplier segmentation and cost management;
• Ability to support procurement transformation and process optimization;
• Experience transitioning from transactional procurement to strategic category management;
• Experience in sourcing plans, tenders, contract negotiations and supplier performance management;
• Knowledge of local and international supplier markets within the category;
• Analyze procurement spend data, develop category dashboards and track performance metrics;
• Trained/certified in CIPS or equivalent procurement qualifications;
• Familiarity with SAP or similar ERP systems, procurement analytics and e-sourcing tools;
• Fluency in Azerbaijani and English (Russian preferred);
• Proficiency in MS Suite.