Purchasing and Logistics Specialist at SparkMeter

Come join the SparkMeter team and help increase electricity access in developing countries.

The Purchasing and Logistics Specialist is an all purpose Purchasing support role. Our organization contracts out all our manufacturing and BOM management so our actual purchase order volume is low. However our sales are a high volume low mix in the heavily regulated energy utilities industry with suppliers in China, USA, South Africa and Taiwan serving customers primarily in Africa and central Asia. As a result our transactions have substantial regulatory and international documentation requirements.

The Purchasing and Logistics Specialist will report to and support the Supply Chain manager by performing multiple tactical tasks including but not limited to: creating Purchase Orders, Planning production Schedules/ Line-of-balance, One off data Analysis, ensuring orders are produced on time, international shipment support, and other tasks as needed.

As a Purchasing and Logistics Specialist you'll focus on:

• Purchasing facilitation
• Create Purchase Orders
• Maintain Purchase order related data in Salesforce
• Follow up with Suppliers on orders to ensure on time delivery
• React to and escalate to late orders as needed
• Share monthly product forecasts with suppliers
• Follow up with Suppliers and Logistics providers on quotes
• Data Analysis either recurring or one off as requested by the Supply Chain Manager
• Monitor and Insure target Raw Material and Finished Goods stock levels are being maintained
• Escalate Supply Chain risks to the Supply Chain Manager as detected
• Other tasks as needed.
   

Logistics Facilitation

• Generate shipping documents
• Monitor shipments in transit to ensure delays are quickly addressed
• Inform Customers/internal stakeholders on delivery times and changes.
• Coordinating product changes with Regulatory
• Participate in launch coordination meetings
• Act as main contact between Product Supply, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Shipping, and other internal departments to assure timely delivery of requested orders.
• Provide input to agreements with third parties.
• Ensure that documents required by customers/customs authorities are compliant and delivered on time.
• Check diligently L/Cs to avoid any discrepancies.
• Cross functional role
• Be a team player and problem solver. Help other departments in their efforts to solve problems as needed
• Serve all internal process stakeholders by responding to request for information or other cross functional needs within the committed response time
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement

Requirements

You'll be a good fit for this role if you have:

• 4 years experience in logistics and Purchasing specialist roles.
• Advanced knowledge of data analytics and data software analysis tools (Excel, Minitab, MS Access, etc.)
• Basic knowledge of established Inventory management practices (EOQ, Safety Stock, Contractual tools & mechanisms, etc.)
• Experience thriving in a complex, high growth environments
• Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and/or Shop Floor Control (SFC) Systems
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Organization skills and attention to details
• Uncommonly organized problem-solving skills
• Ability to think and communicate at the systems level
• Proficiency in data analytics and KPI reporting for day to day activities and to drive improvement actions
• Disciplined self-startedness
• Drive to learn and innovate
• Comfort with imperfection
• Bias for action of practical solution

Where You'll Work

Nairobi, Kenya. From home while COVID is still a problem, in our office when it re-opens.

Type of Role & Compensation Structure

This is a full-time role with benefits. Compensation is made of salary and performance bonus.

SparkMeter was founded to promote opportunity in underrepresented communities initially but has since grown into serving urban & peri urban communities as well.