Procurement Officer – Kenya Small Business Development Centers (KSBDC) at Strathmore Business School

JOB PURPOSE:

The Procurement Officer will be responsible for evaluating suppliers, negotiating contracts, and ensuring that approved products and services are cost-efficient and of high quality. The person will ensure all vendor contracts meet the USAID requirements.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the project team in the  development of the Master Procurement Plan and contribute to regular updates of the plan in reference to annual project work plans.
• Support the Finance and Administration Manager in the development of vendor prequalification exercise, solicitation documents, evaluation templates, managing responses, and evaluation preparation for vendor selection.
• Maintain the documentation of all procurement processes.
• Solicitation of quotations from vendors for the procurement of goods and services as per Strathmore University Procurement policies and  USG guidelines.
• Conduct market research pertaining to prevailing market prices of products and services.
• Prepare quotation matrix for review and approval by the Program Finance and Administration Manager and Deputy Chief of Party.
• Ensure best procurement practices are observed at all times e.g., all certifications regarding conflict of interest and disclosure of relationships in procurement processes.
• Perform vendor checks for the exclusion list of parties through SAM.g,ov, OFAC and UN sanctions list.
• Support the Subcontracts Manager in ensuring all procurements are allowable and not restricted or prohibited under the USAID regulations.
• Conduct vendor appraisals and document any performance concerning decision- making.
• Maintain a systematic filing system of both hard and electronic copies of all procurements and subcontracts procured by the project.
• Support audits and reviews through availing of requested documentation when needed.
• Assist the Finance team to resolve audit issues related to procurement as needed.
• Review and provide recommendations to strengthen procurement policies and procedures.
• Manage the project’s property inventory, covering both non-expendable and expendable items, and ensure all assets are properly accounted at all times.
• Maintain and update complete inventory records.
• Perform any other tasks as may be assigned by the Finance and Administration Manager.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

The post holder will be required to have and to demonstrate evidence of the following qualifications, attributes, and skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Procurement or Finance and Accounting is required.
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience handling procurement-related functions.
• Demonstrate ability to effectively handle multiple concurrent procurements.
• Demonstrate good customer relations (both internally & externally).
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English.