Assistant Director / Head, Procurement at MSI Reproductive Choices

The Role

• The Head, Procurement provides strategic leadership and oversight of all procurement, contracting, negotiation, liaison and sourcing, stakeholder management functions to ensure the efficient, transparent, and compliant delivery of goods and services across MSIN’s programs and operations.
• This role ensures that MSIN’s procurement systems adhere to MSI global standards, donor regulations and Nigerian procurement laws. The Director leads the design and execution of strategies to ensure value for money, timely availability of commodities, and operational efficiency across all program sites.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership:

• Provide overall strategic direction for the procurement functions, ensuring alignment with MSIN’s mission, values, and strategic goals.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies that guarantee cost-effective, ethical, and compliant operations.
• Lead and mentor the Procurement team, fostering a culture of performance, accountability, and innovation.
• Serve as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and contribute to organizational planning and decision-making.
• Ensure strong collaboration with finance, programmes, clinical services, and international partners to ensure seamless operations.
• Lead the procurement unit in planning and forecasting processes towards creating procedural guidelines to aid continuity of same by the team
• Lead, guide and supervise MSIN’s administrative functions and departmental activities across procurement, and fleet management.

Procurement Management:

• Lead the end-to-end procurement process for goods, services, and works in line with MSI Global Procurement Policy and donor requirements.
• Oversee preparation of procurement plans, bid documents, vendor evaluations, and contract management systems.
• Establish and maintain a reliable vendor database through transparent prequalification and due diligence processes.
• Ensure value for money, fairness, integrity, and transparency in all procurement transactions.
• Review and approve purchase requests, tender evaluations, and procurement contracts within delegated authority levels.
• Support the Country Director in strategic procurement negotiations, partnerships, and high-value contract management.
• Support the programme management in developing SOPs in tendering and related processes and the establishment of framework agreements with suppliers of key routine procurement and service related to different areas
• Ensure that MSIN has an optimal performing base of suppliers to effectively support the operations of the procurement unit.

Compliance, Governance, and Risk Management:

• Ensure all procurement activities comply with MSI global standards, Nigerian laws, and donor requirements.
• Maintain an effective internal control system to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Lead audits (internal, external, and donor) related to procurement, develop and implement corrective action plans.
• Champion anti-fraud, ethics, and accountability standards procurement value chain.
• Regularly assess risks within the procurement systems and propose mitigation strategies.

Systems Strengthening and Process Improvement:

• With support from the Finance Director, lead continuous improvement of procurement to enhance efficiency and responsiveness.
• Digitize and automate procurement workflows where feasible (e.g., e-Procurement, ERP systems).
• Ensure robust documentation, archiving, and reporting of all procurement activities.
• Monitor performance through KPIs, including lead times, supplier performance, and cost savings.

Capacity Building and Team Development:

• Build capacity of procurement staff through training, mentoring, and professional development initiatives.
• Conduct procurement compliance training for staff at all levels.
• Promote a high-performance culture within the team through clear objectives, performance reviews, and career progression opportunities.

Representation and External Relations:

• Represent MSIN in national supply chain forums, donor coordination meetings, and professional networks.
• Maintain productive relationships with suppliers, regulatory bodies (e.g., NAFDAC, SON, Customs), and key stakeholders.
• Support resource mobilization by contributing technical inputs to proposals on procurement components.

Requirements

• A Master’s Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or related field.
• Relevant certifications such as CIPS, ISM, or equivalent is required.
• Specific and related trainings in procurement, purchasing and management
• Training in donor procurement regulations (e.g. USAID, DFID/FCDO, UN agencies) is an added advantage
• A minimum of ten (10) year’s full-time professional-level experience involving the acquisition of medical supplies, equipment, commodities, or services involving a competitive bidding and negotiation process
• Experience working on international procurement transactions
• Experience with direct supervision of personnel.
• Knowledge and experience in a health/medical or NGO organizations; experience in working in donor funded programmes such as USAID, EC, World Bank and DFID compliance knowledge will be required
• Technical knowledge or skills:
• Procurement Process, and E-System, INCOTERMS, IT knowledge ERP packages (Tally),
• People management skills
• Working knowledge of MS Dynamics-Navision; Oracle ERP system.
• Performance and Results Oriented,
• Effective Communication and Negotiation Skills, Analytical,
• Customer/Client and Relationship Management,
• Ability to multitask, manage a workload and produce high quality, on-time work
• Excellent written, presentation and verbal communication skills;
• Proven analytical skills and financial acumen
• Able to manage and motivate teams to achieve targets and to achieve organisational change;
• A flexible working attitude, proven ability to work under pressure, to multi-task and to prioritise effectively
• To have excellent initiative and the aptitude to work independently as required
• Resourceful and creative team player
• Strategic thinking and management
• High integrity, confidentiality, and emotional intelligence.
• Strong leadership, negotiation, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and financial management skills.
• Proficiency in procurement software (e.g., SAP, NetSuite, or ERP systems).
• High ethical standards, integrity, and transparency.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications.