Procurement & Supply Chain Innovator
With over 20 years of experience driving innovation in procurement and supply chain management, I specialize in strategic sourcing, cost optimization, risk management, and managing mega project spend. Based in Dubai, UAE, I hold a B.Eng. in Electronics & Communication Engineering and professional certifications including FCIPS, PMP, PMI-RMP, and PMI-SP. I have high expertise in automation and AI systems, leveraging this knowledge to transform and optimize procurement operations.
Key Highlights:
• Experience: 20+ Years in Strategic Procurement
• Location: Dubai, UAE
• Certifications: FCIPS, PMP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP
• YouTube: @samerainews | @Thakaa-AI
Academic Foundation
Comprehensive engineering education providing the technical foundation for strategic procurement and supply chain innovation.
Industry-leading certification in project management, obtained as the gold standard for project management professionals worldwide.
Advanced PMI certifications in Risk Management Professional and Scheduling Professional, representing specialized expertise in critical project management domains.
Highest grade of CIPS membership recognizing outstanding achievement in procurement and supply chain leadership.
Professional Journey
Leading Project Procurement & Contract Management across Middle East and Africa region, with significant contributions to mega project wins and high GP project execution, driving strategic initiatives and regional innovation.
Led global project procurement operations, driving strategic procurement transformation and operational excellence across worldwide operations.
Developed and executed strategic sourcing initiatives across Middle East and Africa, managing supplier relationships and cost optimization programs.
Managed hands-on procurement and contracts for multi-billion USD scale projects, handling complex procurement processes and contract negotiations for major international projects, establishing foundation for strategic procurement expertise.
Professional Credentials
Professional certifications that validate expertise in strategic procurement, project management, risk assessment, and supply chain optimization. These credentials reflect commitment to excellence and continuous professional development in the field.
Let's Connect
I'm always open to discussing procurement innovation, AI integration opportunities, or potential collaborations. Whether you're a recruiter, industry professional, or someone interested in transforming procurement operations, I'd love to hear from you.
Feel free to reach out directly via email or connect with me through my social media channels.
Quick Answers to Common Questions
I am a Fortune 500 procurement executive based in Dubai, with 20+ years across MEA and global programs. I fit roles including Procurement Director, Head of Procurement, VP Procurement and Supply Chain, or CPO based on business size and organizational structures.
UAE-based, currently living in Dubai, open to remote global work and travel opportunities.
Managed up to $400M annual spend across roles and delivered $25M+ savings using competitive events, reverse auctions, and performance analytics. I don't view spend as the primary criteria to judge a procurement professional, rather, I focus on exposure, achievement, and complexity of spend.
I am deeply technical (proud geek) and consistently drive towards leveraging analytics and practical technologies like AI into Source-to-Pay and Procure-to-Pay systems, automate performance dashboards, and use decision intelligence to increase tensioned spend, accelerate cycle times, and reduce risk.
Structured SRM with KPI reviews, competitive tension through events, and contract terms aligned with execution risk. I harmonize playbooks across countries, then monitor risk with analytics and governance so issues surface early. I advocate that deepened supplier relationships are critical, always telling my team: "Suppliers to you should be the same as customers to sales; those relationships are our best assets."
Implemented disciplined supplier payment practices where approximately 90% of invoices were paid after 80 days or back-to-back with customer terms, which strengthened cash performance without harming supplier relationships.
Built and coached a regional procurement organization of 25+ professionals with approximately 5% attrition during transformation. I also led global project procurement operations across 5 regions, directly and indirectly affecting 160+ individuals.
Oil and gas, energy, industrial automation, EPC, and multi-country MEA projects. Categories include site services, EPC packages, long-lead engineered equipment, MRO, capital equipment, temporary resources, electronics, mechanical, electrical, and IT.
I align sourcing strategy with proposals so pricing, supplier commitments, and risk posture are credible at bid stage, then executable after award. This support helped win projects valued in tens of millions USD and contributed to record regional EBITDA.
Standardize policies and playbooks, automate with e-sourcing and reverse auctions where appropriate, embed analytics in approval and P2P workflows, and track a focused set of KPIs that drive tensioned spend and compliance. "Tighten the chains of delivery, and empower real-time data flows."
I use auctions when specifications are clear, supply is competitive, and suppliers are pre-qualified. Quality and service SLAs are locked in contractually, so the auction focuses on total cost and delivery, not cutting corners. I don't run major e-sourcing without clearing core terms and conditions with major bidders.
Skills upskilling in analytics and AI, complex documentation processing, and knowledge facilitation through vetted complex documents used as knowledge bases for chatbots that help harmonize process compliance, reduce onboarding time, and systematize feedback collection. I also use AI for ideation, scenario analysis, potential risk assessments, and more.
Cycle time reduction from request to PO, compliance and governance scores, supplier performance, proposal hit rate, EBITDA impact, and working capital improvements. Fundamentally, beyond figures and numbers, what matters most is the sentiment of my internal customers and stakeholders about how they are enabled by our department to achieve their goals and the enterprise's objectives.
FCIPS chartered since 2014. PMP, PMI-RMP, and PMI-SP since 2008. Professional affiliations include CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), PMI (Project Management Institute), and JEA (Jordanian Engineering Association).
I managed procurement packages for the $1.8B Ras Laffan Expansion and the $550M Shah Sulphur Station, achieving more than $10M total cost reduction versus budget.
Yes. I engage on transformation design, S2P and P2P improvement, supplier risk management, and AI-assisted procurement programs for executives who need fast traction and measurable outcomes.
English (professional fluency) and Arabic (native). I can support bilingual stakeholder environments.
Email samerkhaddad@gmail.com, message me on LinkedIn, or book a short intro call by chatting with my AI assistant on samerkhaddad.com. I respond quickly to direct executive outreach.
What Makes Me Strong
Driving tangible results through innovative procurement strategies, technological integration, and team empowerment.
Driving business transformation through strategic procurement, technological innovation, and value chain optimization.
These core principles guide my professional conduct and decision-making, ensuring ethical and innovative leadership in procurement and supply chain management.
Upholding the highest standards of integrity and transparency in all procurement processes and decisions.
Continuously seeking and implementing cutting-edge solutions to drive efficiency and value in supply chain management.
Fostering strong partnerships and teamwork across departments and with suppliers to achieve mutual success.
Committed to ongoing learning and process optimization to deliver ever-increasing value to the organization.
Striving for the highest quality in all aspects of work, from strategic planning to execution and delivery.
Integrating environmental and social considerations into procurement decisions for long-term business and global benefit.
Prioritizing the needs and satisfaction of both internal and external customers in all procurement activities.
Proactively identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to ensure robust and resilient supply chains.
As a seasoned procurement and supply chain leader, I bring transformative strategies and innovative solutions that drive organizational success and competitive advantage.
Implement data-driven strategies to significantly reduce costs without compromising quality, enhancing overall profitability and financial performance.
Streamline and enhance procurement processes, leveraging AI and automation to improve efficiency, reduce lead times, and increase overall operational agility.
Lead change management initiatives that align procurement and supply chain functions with overall business strategy, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
Develop and implement comprehensive risk management frameworks to ensure business continuity, enhance supplier reliability, and navigate global market uncertainties.
Harness cutting-edge AI and technology solutions to revolutionize procurement processes, enabling data-driven decision-making and predictive analytics capabilities.
Forge and nurture strategic supplier relationships and industry partnerships to drive innovation, ensure competitive advantage, and create mutual long-term value.
Fact-based performance highlights from delivered procurement and transformation programs.
Organizations Served
Industry Professionals
Samer is an incredible leader. He built a work culture of mutual trust between the team, always communicated with honesty, and helped me to develop my career. Samer is very supportive, passionate, empowering and stay approachable no matter his workload. For me, he became an example.
Innovation & Insights
Unlike typical executives, I bring hands-on expertise in building AI agents, automation workflows, and machine learning systems. This deep technical knowledge combined with 20+ years of procurement leadership enables me to deliver transformational value that others simply cannot match.
Check out my AI models on Hugging Face.
Through personal projects and continuous learning, I build custom AI agents and automation systems. From RPA to intelligent document processing, I create innovative solutions that eliminate 80% of manual work - demonstrating practical expertise beyond traditional procurement leadership.
Expert in AI-powered development using Vibe coding techniques and advanced AI systems for building sophisticated solutions, alongside no-code platforms. I architect, build, and deploy AI initiatives personally, ensuring practical solutions that deliver measurable results.
A rare combination: Fortune 500 procurement leader who codes AI solutions. I speak both boardroom and technical languages, bridging the gap that typically requires entire teams to fill.
Master AI implementation through hands-on tutorials and real-world procurement automation examples
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Thought leadership on AI innovation, procurement transformation, and business strategy