Job Description
Role Purpose
Lead the execution of the purchasing strategy & category management for the business. The role holder will be responsible for the execution of strategies through strategic sourcing to significantly reduce costs.
Direct the achievement of reductions in total costs of products while maintaining or improving supplier quality and service levels and managing relationships. Take overall responsibility and accountability for the Purchasing Function which will include people and budgetary management. Act as an integral part of the senior management team which determines overall strategy and business decisions.
Key Responsibilities
• Strategic Alignment: Lead and develop the overall sourcing strategies covering a broad spectrum of categories - primarily packaged goods (everyday essentials) - but also Ingredients/ Raw Materials, Packaging, and Indirect where required. Create and implement best practice purchasing vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve business performance
• Performance Management: Drive company purchasing and category management pipeline and align to company strategy to strengthen market position through the most competitive pricing. Forecast price and market trends to identify changes of balance in buyer-supplier power.
• Risk Management: Develop risk mitigation strategy through close monitoring of the market environment to minimize price risk/ capture opportunity.
• Budget Management: Input and hold responsibility for Purchasing and cost estimating budgets. Prepare the annual Purchasing budget and forecasts and all Capital Expenditure proposals as well as ensuring compliance with customer and legal requirements. Manage the budget from identification to completion of projects
• Supplier Management: Continue to develop new suppliers while maintaining a strong partnership & network to ensure continuous supply at the most efficient cost while driving quality improvements to support innovative new product launches. Ensure professional and consistent supplier management across the supply base in line with the purchasing policy.
• Leadership: As a strong leader, establish clear and measurable objectives for the purchasing team and ensure they achieve the company and team's short-term and long-term goals both financially and operational including achieving savings, managing contract implementation, and tracking impact.
• Stakeholder Management: Internal stakeholder engagement remains key to understanding and meeting the organisation's needs. As a key representative for the company to engage with suppliers and external stakeholders affecting company purchasing strategies
• People Management and Development: Create an open culture with collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams and significant stakeholders. Oversee the attraction of top talent to work within the commercial department, while developing and retaining talent. Ensure that appropriate performance management and succession planning is in place to guide and motivate a diverse team of high performing individuals to achieve our aggressive business growth goals.
• Any other duties within the Commercial department as may be assigned from time to time by the CEO
Minimum Requirements and Key Skills:
• A degree holder in Purchasing or Business Management. Master’s degree in related filed will be ideal master’s level;
• A minimum of 15 years experience, with at least 10 years in procurement/ sourcing or supply chain;
• Experience in category sourcing expertise in food ingredients and/or commodities with strong knowledge of the retail/FMCG market and everyday essentials;
• Prior experience working for leading retail chain/FMCG/ Food and Beverage/ Personal Care / Consumer Packaged Goods or large retail chain company in a leadership role managing a diverse team;
• Proven track record driving successful procurement or category strategies achieving cost and financial objectives and growth;
• Proven record in efficient delivery of low-cost business model strategies and tactical execution;
• Previous success in driving transformation or change management ideal;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills;
• Must be fluent in English and Kiswahili.
Minimum competencies:
• Strategic Leadership;
• Commercial Acumen;
• A knack for Problem Solving;
• Analytical Thinking;
• Stakeholder Management;
• Strong Negotiation Skills;
• Tech Savvy.
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