1. ROLE PURPOSE:

The Sourcing Manager owns the end-to-end sourcing cycle for assigned IT categories within the extended VMO - from sourcing strategy and RFP execution through supplier evaluation, contract award, and post-award contract support. The role ensures every sourcing event is run with discipline and rigour: clear scope and evaluation criteria up front, a fair and well documented evaluation process, a defensible award decision, and a clean handover into contract execution and vendor governance.

The Sourcing Manager works closely with Technology, Legal, Finance and InfoSec stakeholders throughout the cycle, and feeds sourcing outcomes into the VMO's governance artefacts (Obligations Traceability Matrix, Savings Pipeline) to ensure a seamless transition from sourcing into steady-state vendor management.

2. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

2.1 Strategic Sourcing & Tendering:

- Own the sourcing pipeline and RFP/RFI/RFQ governance for all IT categories across assigned topics.

- Absorb and independently operate the tendering knowledge, tools and templates.

- Develop category sourcing strategy for IT categories, aligned to business objectives, budget & financial targets.

- Partner with stakeholders and business/technology leads to establish requirements, scope and evaluation criteria ahead of each sourcing event.

2.2 Running the RFP (RFI / RFP / RFQ Execution):

- Develop and issue RFI/RFP/RFQ documentation - requirements, scope, evaluation criteria, timelines and commercial terms.

- Manage bidder communications, clarification cycles and Q&A sessions throughout the bid period.

- Ensure bid documentation clearly defines scope, inclusions/exclusions, assumptions and commercial structure to support clean comparison across bidders.

2.3 Evaluation:

- Evaluate and analyse incumbent and potential suppliers against established evaluation and selection criteria - cost, technical fit, service levels, risk and (where applicable) ESG factors.

- Perform bid analysis and leveling (scope, inclusions/exclusions, assumptions, schedule impact) to ensure like-for-like comparison across proposals.

- Facilitate a cross-functional evaluation committee (Technology, Legal, Finance, InfoSec) and consolidate scoring into a clear, defensible recommendation.

2.4 Contracting Support and Awarding:

- Support commercial negotiations - pricing structure, payment terms, SLAs, warranties and key risk clauses - in coordination with Procurement.

- Support contract drafting and finalisation with Legal, ensuring terms and conditions accurately reflect RFP and negotiation outcomes.

- Prepare award recommendations based on evaluation scoring and secure the appropriate governance/approval sign-off.

3. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

- 10+ years of dedicated Sourcing & Procurement experience, with a strong IT/technology category focus.

- Post Graduate degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

- Demonstrated track record running full sourcing cycles - from RFP through evaluation, award and contract support - delivering measurable cost savings.

- Strong negotiation experience on contracts of significant value, covering pricing, SLAs, payment terms and risk allocation.

- Team leadership experience across sourcing analysts and specialists.

- Consulting/GCC-based advisory experience preferred.