Category Delivery Manager - Wells, Rigs and Subsurface

NES Fircroft is recruiting for a leading international energy operator to recruit a Category Delivery Manager (Wells, Rigs & Subsurface) to support a major upstream development project in the Middle East. This role will be based in the UK hybrid working in Surrey/ London with regular travel to Iraq.

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in one of the region's most significant field redevelopment programmes, supporting large-scale drilling, well intervention, facilities rehabilitation, and future growth activities. The successful candidate will lead procurement and commercial delivery across Wells, Rigs and Subsurface categories, ensuring strategic sourcing, contract management excellence, stakeholder alignment, and value creation across a complex operational environment.

The Role Reporting to the project's senior procurement leadership team, you will act as the primary procurement business partner for Wells, Rigs and Subsurface functions, leading category strategy development and delivery while supporting operational and project objectives.

You will work closely with technical, operational, legal, finance, HSE, and supply chain stakeholders to deliver safe, compliant, cost-effective, and commercially robust procurement outcomes.

Key Responsibilities
Develop and implement procurement and category strategies for Wells, Rigs and Subsurface services.
Lead end-to-end sourcing activities including tender strategy, RFP development, supplier engagement, bid evaluation, negotiations, and contract award.
Drive value creation through effective supplier management, commercial optimisation, and risk mitigation.
Ensure procurement activities comply with project governance requirements, local regulations, and industry best practice.
Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, joint venture partners, and internal stakeholders.
Support contract lifecycle management and supplier performance management activities.
Provide commercial and contractual guidance to operational and project teams.
Collaborate with remote category teams and in-country stakeholders to ensure alignment of procurement priorities.
Lead, coach and develop multidisciplinary procurement teams operating across multiple cultures and locations.
Support audit requirements, cost recovery activities, and procurement assurance processes.
Monitor supplier performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives.What We're Looking For
Degree qualified in Procurement, Engineering, Business, Supply Chain or a related discipline.
CIPS qualification or equivalent professional accreditation preferred.
Extensive procurement and supply chain experience within the oil & gas sector.
Strong background in Wells Services, Drilling, Rigs, Subsurface or other upstream categories.
Proven experience managing large-scale, high-value contracts and sourcing activities.
Strong commercial acumen with advanced negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
Experience operating within complex, multicultural project environments.
Knowledge of contracting frameworks, supplier performance management, compliance, and P2P processes.
Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver results in fast-paced environments.
Strong leadership capability with experience developing and mentoring teams.Why Apply? This role offers the opportunity to contribute to a major international upstream development project with significant long-term investment and growth potential. You will join a high-performing procurement team supporting critical operations and capital projects within one of the world's most strategically important hydrocarbon regions.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients