Regional Procurement Supervisor

Working with us

Launched in 2004, Cognita is an extraordinary community of schools that span 20 countries and share one common purpose: to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. With over 100 schools in Europe and the US, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia, Cognita employs more than 22,000 teaching and support staff in the care and education of over 100,000 students.

Together, Cognita schools provide a uniquely global education that goes beyond grades, developing academic excellence alongside adaptability, agency, and the positive attitudes that prepare young people to grow, thrive, and find success in a rapidly evolving world.

Role Purpose

We are recruiting a highly organised and proactive Regional Procurement Supervisor to manage and streamline procurement activities across the Middle East region, ensuring timely delivery of goods and services, compliance with policies, and strong vendor relationships. This role is responsible for managing transactional procurement activities, maintaining accurate records, coordinating compliance documentation, and acting as the key liaison between schools, vendors, and the procurement team. This role ensures adherence to procurement best practices, company policies, and UAE regulations while supporting efficient operations across all schools in the region.

Key Responsibilities:

Procurement Operations:

• Manage and process purchase requirements for schools within the region.
• Maintain and update the regional procurement tracker to reflect purchase status.
• Monitor timely delivery of goods and services to schools.
• Ensure all procurement activities comply with company policies, UAE regulations, and ethical standards.
• Oversee vendor onboarding, due diligence, contract administration, and performance evaluation.
• Maintain the approved vendor list and explore new supply sources.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (finance, operations, academic departments) to align procurement with organizational goals.
• Participate in purchase order close-out activities and maintain complete documentation.
• Liaise with vendors to resolve operational issues and ensure smooth delivery.

Compliance & Documentation:

• Coordinate the collection, verification, and archiving of compliance documents for procurement transactions and vendor onboarding.
• Conduct annual compliance reviews and maintain accurate vendor documentation.
• Maintain contracts database for all managed vendors.
• Support internal and external audits by providing procurement records.
• Ensure adherence to Health, Safety, Environment, and Security (HSES) policies.
• Provide guidance on procurement processes and mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks.

Service Level Agreements (SLAs):

• Establish and monitor clear SLAs for procurement processes, including requisition turnaround, vendor onboarding, compliance checks, and delivery schedules.
• Track procurement activities against SLAs using ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite) and regional trackers.
• Communicate SLA expectations and progress to schools, departments, and vendors.
• Address SLA deviations and implement corrective actions to maintain performance standards.
• Prepare regular SLA compliance reports for management review.

What we’re looking for

Skills, Experience and Requirements:

• Proven experience in procurement or supply chain management.
• Strong organisational, tracking, and multitasking skills.
• Excellent communication and coordination abilities.
• Familiarity with compliance documentation and procurement processes.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks efficiently.
• Experience with ERP systems, especially NetSuite, is essential.

Why Join Us:

• Opportunity to make a direct impact on school operations and student experience.
• Collaborative and dynamic working environment.
• Professional growth and development opportunities.

If you are a proactive procurement professional who thrives in a fast paced, multi-stakeholder environment, we encourage you to apply

Cognita is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers, and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practices and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.