Procurement Manager at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Duties

• Coordinate the end-to-end procurement process for the program needs identification, sourcing, tendering/requests for quotation, bid evaluation, contracting and delivery follow-up, in line with IITA's procurement thresholds and policy.
• Prepare and maintain an annual procurement plan aligned with the program work plan and budget, tracking status of all procurement requests across states and countries.
• Conduct or support market surveys and competitive sourcing of vendors and service providers (including for Youth Agribusiness Park rehabilitation, starter kits, and training logistics), maintaining an up-to-date and pre-qualified vendor database.
• Draft and review purchase orders, contracts and service agreements, ensuring appropriate approvals, accurate specifications and clear deliverables/timelines.
• Consolidate procurement requests received from state Admin and Logistics Officers and ensure timely processing to avoid delays to state-level training and activity schedules.
• Monitor vendor performance, contract compliance, and delivery quality, and escalate disputes or non-performance issues for resolution.
• Maintain complete and auditable procurement files/records (requests, quotations, evaluation reports, contracts, delivery notes, and payment authorizations).
• Support due diligence and capacity assessments of implementing and technical partners as part of the partner engagement process.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with donor requirements, applicable national regulations, and IITA's safeguarding and ethics standards, including conflict-of interest checks.
• Provide procurement guidance and basic training to state-level staff involved in local purchasing and imprest-based procurement.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Country Coordinator.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Procurement/Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Economics or a related field.
• Professional certification (e.g., CIPS) is an advantage. 
• Minimum of 5 years of procurement experience, preferably with an international NGO, research institute or donor-funded program will be an added advantage.

Competencies:
The ideal candidate must have:

• Sound knowledge of procurement procedures, contract management, and vendor evaluation methods.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (particularly Excel) and experience using ERP/procurement software are advantages.
• High level of integrity, transparency, and attention to detail.
• Strong negotiation, organizational, and multitasking skills, with the ability to manage procurement across multiple states/countries simultaneously.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of procurement and supply chain management principles.
• Good understanding of contract administration and supplier management.
• Strong planning, organizational, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• High attention to detail and commitment to compliance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple procurement processes simultaneously.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and electronic procurement systems.

Benefits

• We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.