Lee Thomas
Abu Dhabi
Summary
Experienced Procurement & Supplier Relationship Manager. Proven track record in events and hospitality sectors for negotiation, sourcing, optimising cost and quality. Knowledgeable of contractual KPI's, SLA's and best practice. Team player that see’s value in individual contribution and with good communication skills.
Results-driven management professional with proven ability to lead teams to success. Strong focus on team collaboration, operational efficiency, and achieving measurable outcomes. Adept at strategic planning, process improvement, and fostering culture of accountability and excellence. Known for adaptability and consistently meeting changing organizational needs.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Programme Manager – Procurement and Contracts
Aspire
10.2023 - Current
- Company Overview: A Government funded entity running events and challenges to showcase advanced technology for Abu Dhabi
- Promoter and owner of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League www.A2RL.io
- Responsible for all Capital, Direct and Indirect sourcing activity
- Management of divisional budget, reporting and spend analysis
- Highlight supplier and budget risks to Senior Management
- Tendering analysis of large value contracts
- Market research and benchmarking for best value
- Commercial contract drafting and negotiation
- Legal support during contracting process
- Supply chain management for direct and indirect goods and services
- Co-ordination and management of shared services support from Legal, Facilities and Finance
- Cross-functional co-ordination with internal and external stake holders
- Key supplier relationship management
Project Buyer - Indirect
Alpine Racing LTD
05.2020 - 10.2023
- Company Overview: A Formula One racing team, formally known as Renault F1 Team
- Responsible for supplier management and delivery of Capital and Indirect Operational expenditure
- Supporting all key stakeholders collaboratively from Facilities to Marketing and IT
- Purchase of indirect goods, materials and services in accordance with policy
- Use of ERP system and purchasing software to prepare and raise purchase orders
- Conduct tenders for supply of goods/services and comparison of quotes
- Strategic supplier selection initiative, tactical negotiations, hands-on order placing
- Select and manage suppliers; build, maintain and challenge supplier relations to meet business requirements of cost, quality and lead time
- Negotiate contracts, price and deliverables, with good commercial understanding
- Supply chain management for agile delivery
- Evaluate new goods and services that may be beneficial to the teams performance
- Assist with improving the procurement and contracting process for Indirects
- Assist in revision of terms and conditions of purchase
Procurement and Contracts Manager
Silverstone Circuits LTD
04.2016 - 05.2020
- Company Overview: An iconic motor racing and events company, with a turn over of £60m
- Reduced operating costs and maximise sustainable profitability through procurement activity
- Achievement of annual saving targets (£ & %)
- Manage the supply chain of tier 1 & 2 suppliers and forecast accordingly
- Conduct tenders for supply of goods and services
- Manage the analysis of procurement projects and bid submissions
- Support the company development of supplier approaches that are strategically important
- Create and maintain company-wide business continuity plan to cover suppliers and contractors
- Create contract database to actively manage supplier agreements
- Introduce spend ‘categorization process’ to highlight procurement savings for cascading to all levels
- Create the procurement policy for the company and document purchasing processes to drive compliance
- Manage and track the contracts process including proof reading, researching and supporting work
- Ensure all procurement activity is carried out in accordance to legislation and company policies
- Purchasing analysis and data capture from Microsoft Navision
- Co-ordinate legal advice relating to business activity for procurement and supply issues
Trading Systems & Supply Chain Manager
Mitchells and Butlers PLC
11.2014 - 04.2016
- Company Overview: A Hospitality PLC of 1800 sites and restaurants with a turnover of £23bn
- Effectively project managed the roll-out of a new e-commerce solution
- Responsible for managing the procurement and supply chain integration budget
- Negotiated a new deal to supply e-p2p software (40% saving through process, £350k saving on past deal)
- Create a systems training programme for the roll-out to sites (Training sessions, print & video)
- Create a bespoke systems development to best fit with current systems and practices
- Negotiating best prices for system developments
- 2nd line technical support for all stakeholders to resolve issues
- Forecasting, maintaining and delisting nominated products
Trading Systems & Supply Chain Manager
The Orchid Group
03.2007 - 11.2014
- Company Overview: A Hospitality group of 230 sites and restaurants with a turnover of £179m
- Continuous management of all strategic aspects of e-commerce supply base within the business
- Liaising with all key stakeholders to deliver a robust supply chain network and e-commerce solution
- Cost savings, new ideas and rapid implementation throughout contract life-cycles for IT providers
- Forecasting, maintaining and delisting nominated products
- Supplier relationship management and development of monitoring matrices
- Negotiating best prices from suppliers and IT provider
- Procurement of tactical and operational goods and services
- Tendering for direct and indirect products and analyzing data
- Protecting sales GP% through tight ordering controls on end user sales
- Producing reports for senior management and team members to give them accurate support data
- Project management as determined by the Purchasing Director
Graphic Designer & Online Content Manager
Honda Racing F1 Team
02.2005 - 03.2007
- Company Overview: A Formula One racing team, formally known as British American Racing
- Worked on a wide range of marketing material through print, web and media
- Communicate team brand identity and maximise sponsor exposure
- Created and managed a web portal for brand collateral and images
- Concept design for race car and team liveries and new car launches
- Sponsor related and special projects determined by the Marketing Director
- Traveled globally with the team to assist with graphic design and any other marketing duties
Education
Foundation Diploma - Financial Trading
Academy of Financial Trading
01.2016
CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply - Merit
Oxford College of Marketing
01.2014
PRINCE 2 Qualified -
Quanta ltd
01.2014
Bachelor of Arts (Honors) - Business Studies
Open University
01.2013
Diploma - Design & Innovation
Open University
01.2006
3 A-Level’s, 1 AS-Level -
Gosford Hill Sixth Form
01.2001
Skills
- Problem solving
- Commercial awareness
- Purchasing best-practice
- Negotiation
- Stakeholder management
- Supplier evaluation
- Relationship management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Teamwork
- Category management
- Sourcing strategies
- Business objectives
- Excellent communicator
- Complex Problem-solving
- Relationship building
- Strategic planning
- Operations management
- Project management
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Customer relationships
- Conflict resolution
- Policy implementation
- Policy and procedure development
- Partnership development
Timeline
Programme Manager – Procurement and Contracts
Aspire
10.2023 - Current
Project Buyer - Indirect
Alpine Racing LTD
05.2020 - 10.2023
Procurement and Contracts Manager
Silverstone Circuits LTD
04.2016 - 05.2020
Trading Systems & Supply Chain Manager
Mitchells and Butlers PLC
11.2014 - 04.2016
Trading Systems & Supply Chain Manager
The Orchid Group
03.2007 - 11.2014
Graphic Designer & Online Content Manager
Honda Racing F1 Team
02.2005 - 03.2007
PRINCE 2 Qualified -
Quanta ltd
Bachelor of Arts (Honors) - Business Studies
Open University
Diploma - Design & Innovation
Open University
Foundation Diploma - Financial Trading
Academy of Financial Trading
CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply - Merit
Oxford College of Marketing
3 A-Level’s, 1 AS-Level -
Gosford Hill Sixth Form
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