Category Lead
Dangote Industries Limited
Remote
Job Title/ Position: Category Lead
Reports To: Head, Category Management
Location: Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical, Lagos
Job Summary
To develop and execute category sourcing strategies that ensure the reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable supply of materials, equipment, services, and critical inputs required for refinery and petrochemical operations. The role is responsible for maximizing value through strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, commercial negotiations, market intelligence, and risk mitigation while ensuring compliance with procurement policies, governance standards, and business objectives.
The Procurement Category Lead serves as the commercial focal point for assigned spend categories, driving totalcost of ownership optimization, supply assurance, operational continuity, and continuous improvement to support the organization's operational excellence and profitability goals.
Scope of Responsibility:
The Procurement Category Lead is accountable for managing assigned procurement categories, including but not
limited to:
- Process Chemicals and Catalysts
- Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO)
- Mechanical Equipment and Spare Parts
- Electrical and Instrumentation Materials
- Rotating and Static Equipment
- Engineering Services
- Logistics and Transportation Services
- Industrial Gases and Utilities
- Information Technology
- Corporate and Administrative Services
- Capital Project Procurement
- Annual category spends ranging from USD 50 million to USD 500 million+ depending on portfolio.
- Responsible for identifying and delivering annual cost optimization targets.
Category Strategy Development
- Develop and maintain long-term category strategies aligned with business objectives.
- Conduct spends analysis and category segmentation.
- Develop sourcing roadmaps and procurement plans.
- Identify opportunities for cost optimization and value creation.
- Analyze market trends, risks, and supplier capabilities.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing activities.
- Develop RFQ, RFP, and tender strategies.
- Evaluate supplier proposals and commercial offers.
- Conduct commercial negotiations and contract award recommendations.
- Ensure competitive sourcing and compliance with procurement policies.
- Develop strategic supplier partnerships.
- Conduct supplier performance reviews.
- Monitor supplier risk and business continuity plans.
- Drive supplier innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Manage supplier development programs.
- Collaborate with Contract Management teams during contract lifecycle.
- Support contract negotiations and renewals.
- Ensure contractual obligations are achieved.
- Resolve commercial disputes and claims.
- Deliver annual savings and value creation targets.
- Drive total cost of ownership initiatives.
- Benchmark pricing against industry standards.
- Monitor commodity and market indices.
- Identify alternative sourcing opportunities.
- Identify supply chain vulnerabilities.
- Develop mitigation plans for critical categories.
- Ensure dual sourcing where required.
- Support business continuity planning.
- Monitor geopolitical and market risks impacting supply
- Ensure adherence to procurement policies and procedures.
- Maintain audit-ready procurement documentation.
- Ensure ethical sourcing practices.
- Promote transparency and regulatory compliance.
- Support internal and external audits.
- Serve as procurement business partner to assigned functions.
- Align sourcing priorities with operational requirements.
- Support refinery shutdowns, turnarounds, and project execution.
- Facilitate cross-functional sourcing decisions.
- Implement category management best practices.
- Drive procurement digitization initiatives.
- Improve procurement cycle times.
- Enhance supplier collaboration platforms.
- Support procurement transformation programs.
Education and Work Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics or a relateddiscipline; a postgraduate degree (MBA or relevant master’s) is an added advantage
- Professional certification such as CIPS, CPSM, CSCP, CIPSMN, or equivalent is strongly preferred
- Minimum of 8–12 years’ progressive experience in procurement, category management, or process/operationsroles within oil & gas, refining, or petrochemical environments
- Demonstrated expertise in category management, including development and execution of category strategiesand delivery of measurable value outcomes
- Strong track record in strategic sourcing and commercial negotiations, including management of technical andperformance-based contracts
- Experience in supplier and contract management, including engagement with catalyst manufacturers,licensors, and specialty chemical providers
- Proven ability to conduct technical supply market intelligence and analysis, including benchmarking, supplierevaluation, and product performance assessment
- Strong understanding of procurement planning, budgeting processes, and alignment with operational andprocess requirements
- Familiarity with standard sourcing methodologies, procurement systems, and chemical/material managementpractices
- Experience working within oil & gas, refining, petrochemical, or other asset-intensive industries is highlydesirable
Integrity and Ethics
- Demonstrates transparency and accountability.
- Upholds procurement governance standards.
- Focuses on value delivery and business outcomes.
- Consistently achieves procurement targets.
- Builds strong cross-functional relationships.
- Works effectively with suppliers and stakeholders.
- Understands internal customer needs.
- Delivers reliable procurement support.
- Identifies root causes.
- Develops practical and sustainable solutions.
- Responds effectively to changing market conditions.
- Thrives in dynamic operational environments.
- Communicate clearly and professionally.
- Presents recommendations confidently to leadership.
Strategic Thinking
- Develops long-term sourcing strategies.
- Aligns category plans with business priorities.
- Makes timely, fact-based procurement decisions.
- Balances commercial, operational, and risk considerations.
- Influences senior stakeholders.
- Builds alignment across business functions.
- Drives procurement transformation.
- Promotes innovation and continuous improvement.
- Establishes clear targets.
- Monitors and improves category performance.
- Understands refinery economics.
- Connects procurement decisions to business value.
ERP Systems
- SAP S/4HANA
- SAP MM
- SAP Ariba
- Oracle ERP
- Spend analytics platforms
- Procurement dashboards
- KPI reporting systems
- Advanced Microsoft Excel
- Power BI
- Tableau
- Microsoft Power Platform
- E-Sourcing platforms
- Contract lifecycle management systems
- Supplier management portals
- Digital tendering systems
- AI-enabled sourcing tools
- Predictive analytics
- Procurement automation
- Digital supplier collaboration platforms
Strategic Procurement & Category Management
- Category strategy development
- Strategic sourcing
- Spend analysis
- Demand management
- Procurement planning
- Cost modeling
- TCO analysis
- Commercial negotiations
- Contract commercial evaluation
- Cost reduction methodologies
- Supplier relationship management
- Supplier development
- Supplier performance management
- Supplier risk assessment
- Commodity market analysis
- Benchmarking
- Industry trend monitoring
- Supply market assessment
- Procurement governance
- Supply risk management
- Compliance management
- Business continuity planning