Procurement Engineer at Adam Smith International

Tracking Code: 954-112
Location: Kano
Reporting to: Principal Project Manager
Department: Private Sector Development

Background

• Mafita is a 6-year DFID-funded programme working in Nigeria’s northern states, with a vision to empower marginalised youths and women through the provision of increased economic opportunities and social inclusion.

About MAFITA
Northern Nigeria has high-youth unemployment, insecurity and limited economic opportunities. Mafita aims to facilitate 68,000 marginalised young people – with a particular emphasis on adolescent girls and Almajirai – to find gainful employment. By 2021, the programme will create a net total of 43,300 full-time equivalent jobs and assisted 23,500 micro and small enterprises (MSEs). The programme will tackle the supply and demand side of the labour market, focussing on the delivery of skills essential for employment, as well as the absorptive capacity of the labour market.

Mafita partners with public and private stakeholders to improve access to relevant and quality training, mentorship, work experience, business development, and financial services for marginalised youths and women. The programme will also support local market systems to enable the absorption of MAFITA’s target beneficiaries into sustainable income-generating activities

Position Overview

• The Procurement Engineer is responsible for overseeing the purchasing of technical goods for the trainings of several vocational and skills development.
• He or she will have a very detailed knowledge of the equipment, materials and supplies used in each of the particular industries.

Duration

• This is a full-time position, commencing as soon as possible with anticipated 116 days of input until 31st March 2018. 
• The candidate will be based in the Kano office with some travel in and around focal states of Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa.

Responsibilities

• The primary responsibility of the Procurement Engineer is to use his/her specialist  knowledge to determine that each of the training trades has the machinery, components and supplies needed to efficiently and safely conduct trainings.
• He or she will review any engineering changes that impact material or supplier in order to adjust stocks accordingly.

Specific responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• To create/manage vendor qualification process and a performance feedback rating system that will drive positive results in both supplier quality, cost and on time performance
• To manage projects in tactical and strategic purchasing tasks to improve internal business processes that reduce cycle times and improve efficiencies
• To lead in data analysis for strategic decision making and identification of out- of control processes to avoid cost and increased cycle time
• To liaise with procurement partners through cross functional teams to complete strategic project and ensure smooth procurement process
• To create/manage vendor qualification process and a performance feedback rating system that will drive positive results in both supplier quality, cost and on time performance
• To manage projects in tactical and strategic purchasing tasks to improve internal business processes that reduce cycle times and improve efficiencies
• To lead in data analysis for strategic decision making and identification of out of control processes to avoid cost and increased cycle time
• To liaise with procurement partners through cross functional teams to complete strategic project and ensure smooth procurement process
• To work closely with intervention managers to maintain a relevant and up-to-date Procurement Plan, track changes, and inform relevant stakeholders of those changes
• To lead cost reduction projects to successfully obtain company driven cost out goals to remain competitive within approved budgets
• To identify all requirements in requisition for purchase issued by training Department
• To reiterate with suppliers for finalization of quantity and quality
• To establish and agree on delivery terms, time and stages of inspection for the supply with Project Management Team
• Organise state teams to be present for the acceptance of deliveries, and its QA
• To ensure that all potential suppliers are provided with identical information upon which the quotations are given equal opportunity to meet the desired requirements
• To keep accurate records to justify the process and any other related decisions made in this regard
• To review the Purchase order
• To track and monitor expediting of Shipment
• To handle Delivery and inspection of items and maintain the record of delivery notes To assist in Insurance claims, if any
• To monitor storing and handling on site, prior to use, during installation and commissioning and closure of any surplus/defective materials after the completion of the project To validate client acceptance/rejection, warranties and other related follow up matters with the supplier till completion of Project
• To report on budget versus Actual performance on project-wise basis
• To arrange and participate in meetings between suppliers and Company engineers and other personnel to facilitate standardization and economical procurement

Required Skills and Experience

• Alongside exceptional technical competencies, the candidate should bring a commitment to the programme’s overall aims of providing sustainable livelihood opportunities to marginalized young people across our core states of operation.
• The preferred candidate will bring a strong work ethic to a lively and dedicated team of professionals.

He should also have the following qualities:

• Detail-oriented and driven
• Able to integrate his/her technical knowledge with business acumen
• Work well independently and committed to thinking outside of the box to achieve results
• Engineering university degree
• Experience in an engineering, procurement and operations role
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency with personal computers and networking, specifically Microsoft Excel
• Ability to analyze bills of material and drawings to understand key requirements
• Knowledge and direct experience in negotiating contracts and quotations with Contract Manufacturers and Suppliers
• Ability to identify cost reduction opportunities
• Advanced skills (ideal to have):
• MAPICS experience
• Working knowledge of AS400
• Professional Engineering License
• Working knowledge of LANL Engineering Standards and LANL -Experience in an engineering, procurement and operations role