Dilara Sen

Global Procurement Operations Manager, Source-to-Pay, FinOps at Microsoft

Istanbul, Türkiye

About

Dual citizen - EU (Bulgaria) & Türkiye Indirect procurement leader with 19+ years of experience operating in complex and multicultural environments. Recognized for a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, including advancing women‑owned supplier initiatives, as well as expertise in source‑to‑pay operations, stakeholder management, contract governance, and indirect spend optimization. Demonstrated leadership in high‑risk country supplier management and crisis scenarios, and currently leading global procurement operations at Microsoft to deliver compliant and scalable supplier solutions worldwide.

Experience

  • Microsoft (10 yrs 5 mos)
    • Global Procurement Operations Manager, Source-to-Pay
      Jan 2025 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

      • Currently reporting to Global Procurement Services Group Manager. • Lead global procurement service delivery across Microsoft countries, covering employee devices, hardware responsible recycling, and sourcing (Ariba) operations. • Own end-to-end service delivery including procurement BPO governance, performance management, quality frameworks, and capacity planning. • Drive operational excellence across run operations, service planning, and continuous improvement initiatives. • Lead the execution and oversight of supplier SLAs/KPIs. • Manage procurement operation volumes, escalations, queues, and ensure business continuity. • Support the implementation of AI solutions that improve procurement services efficiency and deliver cost savings.

    • Snr. Procurement Manager, MEA
      Mar 2022 - Jan 2025 · 2 yrs 11 mos

      • Reported directly to CEE-MEA Region Procurement Group Manager. • Enabled corporate indirect spend strategies through compliant supplier solutions across MEA regions. • Strengthened enterprise and supplier risk management (e.g., Turkey financial crisis, Middle East conflict) and human-rights practices, delivering mitigation strategies across 16 high-risk Microsoft countries. • Led Global Procurement Culture and Diversity & Inclusion initiatives (stretch assignment). • Served as the international indirect procurement liaison for Corporate Legal Affairs (stretch assignment) and supported legal strategy for the international procurement organization.

    • Snr. Procurement Engagement Manager, Turkey and MEA MCC North Countries
      Sep 2018 - Feb 2022 · 3 yrs 6 mos

      • Joined Microsoft as a Procurement Business Partner and progressed into Procurement and Senior Procurement Manager responsibilities regionally. • Managed indirect procurement spend across Turkey, Israel, and multiple African countries, including risk mitigation in highly regulated markets. • Implemented External Staff Policy location strategy across managed countries. • Led supplier diversity initiatives across MEA, including engagement with women‑owned and black‑owned suppliers.

  • Regional Category Manager, India/Middle East/Africa/Russia/CIS (Procurement) at GlaxoSmithKline
    Apr 2014 - Feb 2016 · 1 yr 11 mos

    • Reported directly to the IMEA & CIS Regional Procurement Group Manager. • Developed and executed regional sourcing strategies for indirect spend across India, Middle East, Africa, Russia, and CIS countries. • Identified and delivered long-term savings through strategic sourcing and value-lever optimization. • Managed indirect categories including IT, facilities, marketing, professional services, and marketing agency spend.

  • Sanofi (6 yrs 1 mo)
    • Procurement Domain Manager for Sales & Marketing Categories
      Mar 2013 - Mar 2014 · 1 yr 1 mo

      • Reported directly to the Turkey & Middle East Procurement Director. • Managed indirect procurement categories across all Sanofi Turkey group companies, including communication and media agencies, digital marketing, print, events and congresses, market research, sales promotion services, promotional items, and marketing consulting. • Managed supplier relationships in alignment with Global Procurement Strategy, driving cost reduction, quality improvement, and speed to market. • Ensured implementation of local sourcing strategies in line with global priorities. • Acted as Procurement Communications Lead for Eurasia, Turkey & Middle East (stretched assignment), increasing the engagement of the Procurement function. • Acted as Turkey & Middle East Zone Lead Buyer for the Print category(stretched assignment) for deployment of the regional print strategy

    • Procurement Domain Manager for Scientific Categories
      Jun 2011 - Feb 2013 · 1 yr 9 mos

      • Joined Sanofi as a Purchasing Category Manager and progressed into Procurement Domain Manager responsibilities. • Defined annual purchasing objectives and action plans, including budget forecasting and spend mapping. • Managed procurement scope for scientific and clinical spend categories, including clinical studies, R&D, laboratory equipment, laboratory reagents and consumables, HR consultancy and training, management consulting projects, and ETMS services across Sanofi Turkey group companies. • Defined strategic sourcing priorities and business integration topics for Scientific and Clinical domains. • Led procurement strategy initiatives, including global laboratory consumables and reagents strategy and local laboratory equipment sourcing strategy.

    • Purchasing Category Manager
      Mar 2008 - Jun 2011 · 3 yrs 4 mos

  • Foreign Trade Specialist at Deva Holding
    Dec 2006 - Feb 2008 · 1 yr 3 mos

    • Joined the company as a management trainee and transitioned into procurement and foreign trade roles following cross-functional rotations. • Responsible for raw material purchasing and international trade operations.