Inventory Procurement & Logistics Specialist at Zola Electric

Job Description

• The Inventory Procurement & Logistics Specialist is an overall custodian of all inventory in the country, from when it lands in the port to when it is handed over to the customer. 
• He/she is responsible for the proper operation of all clearing, warehousing, shipping, and distribution activities. 
• Additionally, the Inventory Procurement & Logistics Specialist is responsible for the procurement practices of the company, including proper adherence to policy.
• This role offers an excellent opportunity to challenge yourself, drive results with excellence, and innovate within the confines of a fast-growing start-up organization. 
• ZOLA Electric provides the Inventory Procurement & Logistics Specialist with initial training at country headquarters and unlimited career growth opportunities through training, support and coaching. The role reports into the Logistics and Procurement Manager.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Collaboration:

• Participate in strategic meetings to contribute to the development of the annual Supply Chain strategy
• Source and generate new ideas to input into the Strategy and provide for strategic adjustments
• Develop implementation plan of Operations Strategy in collaboration with the team and monitor implementation therein

Warehouse / Inventory Management and Continuous Improvement :

• Warehouse Management
• Responsible for accurate inventory reporting in the whole country, including reduction of loss, damage and/or theft of inventory in forward and reverse logistics
• Oversee inventory management to ensure optimised inventory levels and safekeeping of stock, lean stock keeping in risk areas out of national warehouse
• Oversee high quality kitting of products
• Prepare all inventory at warehouse for shipment
• Monitor the provision of warehouse services provided by contractors and attend to escalations of deviations to service level agreements to ensure safe and effective stock transfers
• Inventory Management
• Coordinate with the Group Logistics Manager to ensure that stock is ordered and delivered in time to avoid stock outs of any critical parts
• Continuous Improvement
• Implement continuous improvement programs to optimize warehouse operations
• Implement formal root cause and corrective action programs when quality issues arise in warehouse
• Provide support to line management in the optimisation of logistics and distribution to improve costs and process efficiencies

Import / Export Management:

• Oversee clearing, importation and duty/tax management; closely manage any changes on tax/duty and escalate any changes
• Liaise with clearing agents to
• Ensure the timely clearance of imported goods from all ports
• Quote export shipments from warehouse in a timely manner
• Pack and ship inventory from warehouse
• Work with the Logistics and Procurement Manager to collect all documentation needed for import
• Provide prompt input to develop export packing lists from the warehouse of oversight

Procurement Oversight:

• Document and raise purchase order for the country / warehouse overseen
• Track the approval of POs for the country overseen and issue POs as they are approved for country / warehouse operations
• Identify areas where procurement can provide savings to the business and execute on these opportunities
• Contribute to business improvement via strategic procurement.
• Lead negotiations of contract terms and conditions with service providers and monitor the performance of service providers within the country / warehouse overseen
• Source any major items needed for the business, including supplier identification, quote / bid gathering, supplier evaluation, and supplier selection
• Where directed by policy, perform bids or requests for proposal for services, ensuring proper documentation of all major sourcing decisions

Health and Safety Compliance:

• Act as custodian of Health & Safety through the management of the Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Management System (HSEQMS) in compliance with regulations and legislation
• Monitor and report on incidents, identifying root cause through investigations and determining corrective actions to be put in place
• Coordinate the provision of Health & Safety training for Safety Representatives
• Monitor that the office premises comply with Health & Safety protocols (i.e. emergency exits, etc.)

People Management:

• Lead the recruitment of staff members in collaboration with Human Resources Department
• Manage the performance of direct reports, ensuring agreement of annual goals, measuring performance against agreed goals and dealing with areas of non-performance
• Lead the development of staff to ensure the team receive adequate and relevant training to support career development
• Input into the development of succession plans for the department in consultation with the MD
• Lead, coach and mentor direct reports and the team to foster personal growth and teamwork
• Manage the administration of direct reports through the approval of leave, subsistence and travel expenses
• Manage the administration of documentation to ensure availability and ease of retrieval at all times

Stakeholder Management:

• Engage with other teams to address departmental business performance problems, identify resolutions and make the necessary adjustments to the operating business model
• Communicate regularly with the line manager to provide the necessary updates on departmental operations
• Liaise closely with Sales and Finance teams to coordinate / ensure supply
• Support the collaboration across functions to understand and resolve problems on the ground
• Support the efforts of Business Development and balance inventory between business development efforts and retail sales

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in relevant fields such as Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Logistics/Transportation, Business Administration, Procurement, and with a record of strong academic performance
• 5+ years of experience in warehousing and/or logistics Preferred: renewable energy, telecom, or FMCG
• 1+ year of management experience is highly preferred.
• Strong Analytical Skills: Ability to analyse both numeric and verbal data correctly to identify critical connections and patterns to recommend appropriate actions and make tactical decisions
• Problem Solving: Ability to proactively identify and analyse problems to recommend alternative and sustainable solutions; flexibility to adapt solutions to new information
• Attention to Detail: Ability to monitor and ensure all operational processes and policies are correctly and consistently adhered to across the organization
• Familiarity with using Oracle NetSuite for inventory management
• Familiarity with G Suite tools
• Enjoys working hard. Demonstrates energy & drive for things seen as challenging.
• Build the bridge: Ability to build, embrace and repair relationships with our contractors, staff, and external stakeholders..
• Effective communication: Ability to connect with the rest of the organization proactively and effectively and using different communication platforms without holding back important information.
• Strong communication skills. Able to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stuff
• English required ; local-language preferred, if different
• Willingness to work a variety of hours as business demands, including late nights, weekends, and holidays
• Ambition to grow professionally and contribute to the development of the company
• Very adaptable to changes in plans; solution-oriented.