Procurement Manager

The Science for Africa Foundation is an experienced team of scientists, professionals, and African and global partners. It is committed to fostering a culture grounded in Respect, Accountability, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), and Excellence.

This role involves leading the procurement and inventory management function, overseeing planning, sourcing, supplier and contract management, cost optimization, and supply chain risk management. The manager ensures timely and efficient delivery of goods and services, adhering to the SFA Foundation's policies, Code of Ethics, and principles of fairness, transparency, efficiency, and accountability. The position also focuses on continuous improvement, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building to enhance procurement performance and governance, with accountability for measurable savings and responsive services.

1. Lead the development and implementation of a procurement strategy aligned with organizational objectives.
2. Interpret and respond to operational procurement needs, ensuring timely, cost-effective, and high-quality support.
3. Ensure procurement decisions adhere to value-for-money principles and the SFA Foundation’s Code of Ethics.
4. Coordinate annual procurement planning with Finance and departments, aligning requirements with budgets and workplans.
5. Engage departments early to clarify requirements, challenge specifications, and market-test budget estimates.
6. Advise executive and programme teams on strategic sourcing.
7. Ensure procurement management meets international standards and complies with regulations.
8. Oversee end-to-end procurement processes and coordinate inventory records.
9. Ensure all procurement activities comply with SFA Foundation’s policy, funder regulations, and applicable laws.
10. Lead the development, review, and implementation of procurement policies, SOPs, and workflows.
11. Identify and recommend policy amendments.
12. Monitor policy adherence, implement internal controls, and support audit readiness.
13. Lead all tender and sourcing processes, including preparation, advertising, evaluation, negotiation, and supplier debriefing.
14. Ensure tender requirements, evaluation criteria, and approval arrangements are agreed upon.
15. Ensure supplier claims are supported by evidence and material gaps are resolved before award.
16. Develop and implement cost-effective sourcing strategies and maintain a robust supplier database.
17. Oversee vendor identification, registration, relationship management, and performance reviews.
18. Conduct market analysis to benchmark costs and secure value for money.
19. Analyze spend and develop sourcing strategies for high-value categories.
20. Deliver and report measurable savings and cost avoidance.
21. Agree procurement service standards with user departments and resolve issues.
22. Work with Finance to implement risk-based procure-to-pay controls.
23. Manage the full lifecycle of procurement contracts, including negotiation, renewal, and close-out.
24. Ensure contracts align with Foundation policies and risk requirements.
25. Maintain an updated contract register.
26. Ensure proposed variations and additional costs are assessed and approved.
27. Work with internal contract owners to verify delivery and address underperformance.
28. Ensure procurement requisitions have clear requirements and budget approval.
29. Assess, evaluate, and maintain a procurement risk register and implement mitigation measures.
30. Ensure segregation of duties and compliance with the Approval Framework.
31. Apply proportionate supplier due diligence.
32. Escalate material procurement risks, control breaches, and delays promptly.
33. Support internal and external audits and implement recommendations.
34. Maintain procurement quality assurance and decision records.
35. Embed sustainability and supplier inclusion considerations in sourcing.
36. Lead, coach, and mentor the procurement team.
37. Assign duties, develop performance initiatives, and conduct performance reviews.
38. Lead staff training and policy interpretation.
39. Ensure adequate internal procurement capacity.
40. Act as the business owner of procurement processes within the procure-to-pay system.
41. Lead procurement user acceptance testing, data-quality checks, and staff training.
42. Ensure complete, accurate, and accessible procurement records.
43. Provide monthly and quarterly procurement reports.
44. Ensure asset disposal processes align with policies and regulations.
45. Provide technical guidance on appropriate disposal methods.
46. Document and report on disposal activities.

1. Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree is an advantage.
2. CPSP-K certification and valid registration with KISM, or internationally recognized qualifications such as MCIPS or CPSM.
3. Minimum of 7 years’ experience in procurement, with at least 5 years in a managerial role.
4. Strong understanding of procurement law, compliance, and ERP systems.
5. Demonstrated experience delivering measurable savings, managing complex service contracts, and leading procurement process or system improvements.
6. Experience in a donor-funded, international, or research-support organization is desirable.
7. Deep understanding of end-to-end procurement processes, vendor management, and tendering procedures.
8. Skilled in drafting, negotiating, and overseeing contracts while ensuring adherence to policies.
9. Applies cost control strategies and financial analysis to drive value for money.
10. Experience using integrated procurement and finance systems, translating requirements into workflows, and using data for performance improvement.
11. Identifies and mitigates procurement risks, ensuring strong internal controls and audit readiness.
12. Builds effective relationships with internal teams, suppliers, and oversight bodies.
13. Communicates clearly, negotiates effectively, and presents procurement insights to leadership.
14. Leads, coaches, and motivates a high-performing procurement team.
15. Aligns procurement strategy with institutional objectives and anticipates future sourcing needs.
16. Leads the development and refinement of procurement policies, SOPs, and workflows.
17. Possesses a strategic and analytical mindset.
18. Demonstrates strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration.
19. Upholds high integrity, transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct.
20. Results-oriented with excellent organizational skills.
21. Ability to thrive in a dynamic, multi-stakeholder environment.
22. Ability to coach and mentor colleagues and the procurement team.
23. Drives innovation and continuous improvement.
24. Ability to distill complex procurement data into actionable insights.