Procurement Specialist

As Procurement Specialist, the incumbent will be responsible for acquiring FEED the Children Inc. various supplies. The main duties include locating key suppliers, negotiating the company’s purchasing agreements, and ensuring their materials and products meet the company’s specifications. This role will also be responsible for Purchasing goods or services that meet the quantity and quality expectations of the organization, evaluating and negotiating contracts with vendors, tracking inventory, and restocking goods when needed. You will be required to stay up to date on industry trends and new products, including comparing available goods with industry trends to determine appropriate pricing. This position reports to the VP of International Finance Operations.

Essential Job Function

• Manage all HQ procurements from requisition to delivery while maintaining segregation of duties.
• Review all major procurements and ensure that they are in line with FEED the Children Inc. policies and procedures.
• Advice on what procurement instruments to use before the RFQ or RFP is issued by Country Offices – this is for major/complex procurements.
• Perform transaction review on past procurements and advise whether there is a need for corrective action working together with the International Finance Manager.
• Coordinate approval of procurement packs and ensure authorization by the relevant Delegation of Authority (DOA)
• Work with the VP of International Finance Operations to review DOA levels and advise on any amendments.
• Track all contracts and donor agreements for FEED the Children Inc. to ensure that terms and conditions align with best practices and as per signed agreements.
• Manage leases for all FEED the Children Inc. Offices.
• Track assets for the organization.
• Participate in negotiating contract terms on a range of procurements, monitor delivery of exact specifications, and track the delivery of goods & services.
• Work with the Veep International Operations to review and update purchasing procedures to maintain best practices and compliance with donor/funder regulations.

• Plan, coordinate, and manage the FEED the Children Inc procurement plan for both HQ and the Country Offices
• Provide training to the Country Offices in procurement rules and processes, including required advice on required support documents.
• Implement sourcing strategies to support HQ and Country Offices activities to ensure best value.
• Receive and compare bids to recommend supplier selection.
• Develop contracting agreements, in liaison with Contracts and Grants staff, with selected vendors that meet FEED the Children Inc. Standards on quality assurance.
• Ensure that all procurement in FEED the Children Inc. are carried out in a timely and efficient manner and compliance with the procurement policy and donor guidelines/regulations on procurement.
• Facilitate tendering, evaluation, ordering, and monitoring of different procurements for HQ and Country Offices.

Qualifications & Experience
• A bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance, Logistics or Supply Chain Management with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• 5+ years’ experience in project procurement and contracting in donor-funded development projects is required.
• Strong computer skills in ERP systems. Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• 5+ Experience in procurement management for a large complex project.
• 3+ years’ experience in managing USG funded procurement essential.

Behaviors (Values in Practice)

Communication:

Strong verbal and written communication skills are a requirement for this position. The incumbent will use these skills to determine their company’s product needs and to create constructive relationships with vendors.

Project management:

The Procurement Specialist will often manage multiple projects at one time. The ability to plan, delegate and evaluate progress toward goals is necessary for managing these projects.

Negotiation:

The Procurement Specialist will be in charge of negotiating vendor contracts, so they must understand price points and be able to negotiate effectively.

Problem-solving:

A Procurement Specialist must have strong problem-solving skills. For example, they may need to solve the problem of a product or service that does not meet the quality standards of our organization.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with team, colleagues, Donors and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
• Works with minimal supervision
• Good communication skills

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.
• Proven ability to assess priorities, handle a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment, and meet competing deadlines with great attention to detail and quality.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates the highest levels of integrity.