Purchasing & Research Analyst at The Place

About the Role

We are a leading QSR looking to employ Research & Sourcing personnel who will play a key role in building our direct farmer engagement and strategic sourcing capabilities. This opportunity involves in -dept market research, Frequent travel across Nigeria and cultivating strong supplier relationships to ensure a reliable and cost-effective supply of agricultural products.

Key Responsibilities

Farm source Research

• Identify potential farms, cooperatives, aggregators, and agricultural suppliers.
• Build and maintain a database of verified farm sources.
• Research crop availability, harvest periods, production capacity, and regional supply trends.
• Conduct background checks and supplier assessments.

Market Intelligence

• Monitor market prices for agricultural commodities.
• Analyze supply-demand trends and seasonal changes.
• Track competitor sourcing activities and procurement benchmarks.
• Prepare procurement research reports and recommendations.

Procurement Support

• Assist procurement teams in vendor selection and sourcing decisions.
• Support negotiation preparation with data and pricing analysis.
• Coordinate supplier documentation and onboarding processes.
• Ensure suppliers meet quality and compliance standards.

Field and Stakeholder Engagement

• Communicate with farmers, cooperatives, and rural suppliers.
• Conduct field visits when necessary to verify production capability.
• Build strong relationships with agricultural stakeholders.

Data and Reporting

• Maintain procurement records and sourcing databases.
• Generate weekly/monthly sourcing and market reports.
• Use Excel or procurement software for analysis and tracking.  

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of Second Class (upper division) bachelor’s degree in any of the below field:
  • Agricultural extension
  • Agricultural Economics
  • Crop management science
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Economics or related field

Required Skills

• Strong research and analytical skills
• Knowledge of agricultural supply chains
• Vendor sourcing and procurement understanding
• Good communication and negotiation skills
• Microsoft Excel and reporting skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to travel for field research when required

Preferred Experience

• 0-1 years experience in:
  • Agricultural procurement
  • Farm sourcing
  • Commodity trading
  • Supply chain research