Procurement Specialist at Nature Conservancy

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The Procurement Specialist's primary role will be to assist TNC Africa with various tasks such as sourcing, negotiating, and contracting; monitoring vendor performance and analyzing logistics data to improve the supply chain; building and maintaining relationships with business partners; and communicating with vendors; suppliers, and distributors, and be responsible for developing and executing purchasing strategies to reduce costs and improve product quality.

To determine the ideal quantities for purchase and the most suitable delivery times by following a systematic approach. Measure and report key purchasing and inventory metrics. Mitigate Supply Chain risk through supplier qualification, development, and alternatives. The position ensures compliance with TNC policies and procedures and best practices in Operational financial management. The role reports to the Associate Operations Director-Africa Region and works closely with the support functions and the conservation program teams. The position will be based at either of the TNC Africa offices in Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, or Zambia.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

The Procurement Specialist will work as part of a team within the Africa business unit, coordinating tasks related to one or more functional activities. Specifically, they will be responsible for the following;  

• Develop, manage, and track procurement plans for the Africa BU and ensure smooth execution of procurement plans and serve as the custodian of the Procurement tracker for the Africa region.
• Collaborate with budget and department heads to understand organizational needs, oversee the procurement process from start to finish, and ensure procurement commitments are within budget.
• Develop forecast needs and supplies and manage inventory.
• Identify potential suppliers who align with the organization's mission, have relevant certifications and insurance, and offer materials within the budget.
• Facilitate selecting pre-qualified vendors, review and ensure an annual update to the list for all countries.
• Negotiate contracts, manage vendor relationships, and evaluate supplier performance.
• Collect and analyze data for making informed decisions and identify and manage procurement risks.
• Ensure compliance with TNC procurement policies and procedures and any external requirements from donors, legal entities, or the IRS.
• Verification of quotations, guiding procurement procedures & procurement documents in readiness for payment.
• Provide guidance on source procedures, review requests for proposals (RFPs), and tendering processes.
• Review and approval of sole source justifications & advance payments above 25%.
• Train new employees on the procurement SOP and the Africa procurement guidelines and support team members as necessary.
• Review of service contract agreements, e.g., Leases, Accounting vendors, Security, Cleaning & Janitorial.
• Conduct internal procurement audit.
• Facilitation of Procurement committee members in all countries.
• Verification of the procurement invoices and delivery notes before submitting them for payment processing.
• Be willing to travel, work overtime, and work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical. 

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Purchasing Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Management, Business Administration, or related field and five years of related experience or equivalent.
• Professional certification as well as CIPS qualification.  
• Experience with procurement regulations and procedures
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Supervisory experience 
• Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems (ERPs).
• Experience negotiating agreements.
• Analytical and quantitative skills.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience working with a wide range of people, such as the Board of Directors, Donors, Volunteers, and/or all levels of staff.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Over 7 years of proven experience working in Contracts, Supply Chain, and procurement in an International NGO 
• Demonstrated a high level of integrity and trust.
• Experience supporting procurement and supply chain operations for multiple countries across Africa. 
• Knowledge of procurement regulations and guidelines for the nonprofit sector including regulations from bilateral and Multilateral donors 
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Project Management experience 
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated.
• Ability to manage and implement complex processes and diverse activities.
• Ability to work in partnership with others in a collaborative role.
• Advanced knowledge of current and evolving technology utilized by the program.
• Demonstrated ability to conceive and write creatively for various audiences.
• Proficiency in interpreting guidelines and manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting data.
• Strong organization, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Successful experience implementing strategic program goals.