Assistant Buyer

Assistant Buyer

Location: Doha, Qatar Contract Type: Secondment Contract Contract Duration: Until 31 December 2029 Working Schedule: 5 days per week, 8-10 hours per day. Rotation arrangement of 5.5 months on / 2 weeks off is also specified.

Position Overview

A leading oil and gas organisation is seeking an experienced Assistant Buyer to support day-to-day operational procurement activities in Doha, Qatar.

The role focuses on purchasing equipment, materials and supplies required for ongoing oil and gas operations, including supplier sourcing, Request for Quotation (RFQ) management, purchase order processing, vendor coordination and material expediting.

The ideal candidate will have direct experience working for an oil and gas operating company or supporting an operator's procurement function as a contractor. Strong experience in operational purchasing, spot orders and routine procurement activities is preferred over project-based procurement experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the purchasing process, converting Purchase Requisitions (PRs) into Purchase Orders (POs) in accordance with established procurement procedures, policies and standards.

• Execute day-to-day operational purchasing activities for equipment, materials and supplies required by oil and gas operations.

• Apply appropriate sourcing strategies to ensure timely and cost-effective procurement of operational requirements.

• Review purchase requisitions and user requirements, identifying and resolving discrepancies in technical specifications, quantities, lead times and estimated values.

• Prepare and manage RFQs, coordinate supplier responses and support vendor selection.

• Review technical evaluations, price comparisons and commercial bid evaluations.

• Prepare purchase award recommendations and supporting procurement documentation.

• Issue purchase orders and process amendments, variations and change orders as required.

• Support supplier prequalification and technical proposal evaluations to facilitate the development of specifications and cost estimates.

• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to clarify purchasing requirements and ensure accurate procurement documentation.

• Expedite material and equipment deliveries, particularly for emergency, critical and high-value operational requirements.

• Monitor supplier commitments and follow up on outstanding purchase orders to ensure timely delivery.

• Maintain effective relationships with suppliers and support resolution of purchasing and delivery issues.

• Monitor supplier performance and contribute to vendor performance evaluations and improvement initiatives.

• Support procurement Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

• Prepare procurement performance reports and monitor key deliverables throughout purchase order execution.

• Support the administration of supplier bonds, guarantees, progress payments and other procurement-related commercial requirements.

• Monitor market trends, supplier availability, pricing developments and potential supply chain risks affecting operational procurement.

• Maintain accurate purchasing records and update procurement transactions using SAP or other relevant ERP systems.

• Ensure procurement activities are conducted with integrity, confidentiality and compliance with applicable ethical standards.

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal customers, suppliers and other stakeholders.

Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline.

Required Experience

• Minimum 6 years of experience purchasing equipment and materials, preferably within the oil and gas industry.

• Strong experience in operational procurement, particularly spot purchasing and day-to-day purchasing activities.

• Experience working directly for an oil and gas operating company or as a contractor supporting an operator's procurement function is preferred.

• Practical experience in supplier sourcing, RFQ management, commercial evaluations, purchase order processing and vendor coordination.

• Experience handling routine operational requirements, including urgent and critical material purchases.

• Experience reviewing technical specifications, purchase requisitions and supplier quotations.

• Familiarity with procurement ERP systems, preferably SAP.

• Experience supporting supplier performance monitoring and material expediting.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Good understanding of purchasing procedures, procurement processes and sourcing strategies.

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications and procurement documentation.

• Working knowledge of material and equipment specifications used in oil and gas operations.

• Experience preparing commercial comparisons, bid evaluations and purchase award recommendations.

• Understanding of purchase order administration, supplier coordination and delivery expediting.

• Knowledge of procurement SLAs, KPIs and supplier performance monitoring.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word and Excel.

• Working knowledge of SAP or an equivalent procurement ERP system.

• Strong written and spoken English communication skills.

• Good negotiation, analytical and problem-solving abilities.

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple purchasing requirements and prioritise urgent operational needs.

• Ability to work effectively with internal stakeholders, suppliers and procurement teams.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Direct employment experience with an oil and gas operating company.

• Contractor experience supporting an oil and gas operator's procurement department.

• Strong background in spot orders, routine purchasing and operational procurement rather than major capital project procurement.

• Hands-on SAP purchasing experience.

• Experience sourcing materials and equipment for ongoing oil and gas production or maintenance operations.

Additional Information

• Doha-based secondment contract until 31 December 2029.

• Working arrangements include a five-day working week and a stated rotation of 5.5 months on / 2 weeks off.

• The final daily working hours and rotation arrangements should be confirmed, as the supplied information specifies both 8-10 hours per day and 8 hours per day.