Senior Procurement Specialist at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Summary:

As a Senior Procurement Specialist for the Advancing Cross-border Resilience and Opportunities for Safety and Stability (ACROSS) project team, you will manage the project’s systems and processes for local and international procurement of goods and services to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. You will coordinate and report on all project procurement activities and provide procurement-related guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your knowledge and experience will allow you to successfully manage the quality and efficiency of all procurement and purchasing activities and to ensure stewardship, integrity, transparency, and accountability.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage fully compliant procurement systems and operating procedures and organize the procurement functions. Assess effectiveness and efficiency and lead improvements. Ensure compliance with CRS procurement principles, standards, and policies, donor regulations, and local statutory requirements.
• Lead collaboration efforts across various departments and countries to proactively assist with goods/services flow analysis and determine the appropriate supply chain modality, needs, and quantity, quality, and delivery requirements for goods, services, and cash and voucher assistance (CVA). Maintain an up-to-date procurement plan for each country. Advise budget holders in developing annual budget plans that meet procurement needs.
• Manage and control the analysis-to-contract process with strategic sourcing solutions to ensure the best value for money. Key activities include market assessment and price monitoring, writing goods/services specifications, defining supplier evaluation criteria, organizing solicitation documents, running transparent and consistent bidding and vendor selection processes, preparing contracts, etc. Ensure the highest level of transparency and integrity amongst the procurement department and prevent fraud along with the procurement process. Conduct periodic risk assessment along the procurement process.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise procurement team, including remote management of direct reports in each country. Ensure appropriate allocation of staff time and resources to balance the needs of all countries. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being.
• Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development or training plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity for successful support of high-quality programming. Ensure the team is well-equipped with new knowledge and known developments in the field.
• Oversee and monitor relationships and transactions with suppliers and voucher vendors, supplier performance, and contractual obligations to ensure contract completion by authorized terms and conditions. Take action to address current and/or potential contractual issues and/or inefficiencies to mitigate risk. Advise contract/purchase order modifications, if needed.
• Monitor payment terms and schedules through maintenance of the open order report and oversee coordination with the finance team to ensure timely payments to vendors.
• Manage a reliable procurement document trail and database management system for control, accountability, and input for proper inventory recording. Ensure all required information and records are complete, accurate, up-to-date, and properly filed. Oversee reports preparation, consolidate reporting and analyze data for decision-making.

Required Languages - English and Hausa languages are required. Proficiency in other local languages will be an added advantage.

Location: Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Good knowledge of various donor procurement regulations (e.g., KFW, EU, UN)
• Knowledge of international and national procurement regulations and local market conditions in assigned countries.
• Strong knowledge of contract terms and proven ability to negotiate terms and agreements and build and maintain networks with suppliers.
• Ability to perform cost estimation and understanding of financial management and other quantitative information for decision-making in a procurement budget.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including via Outlook and Teams. Responsive and proactive in a remote working environment.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Proficient in the Microsoft Office package.
• Strong planning, coordination, prioritization, and time management skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to make independent judgments and decisions.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented with a focus on meeting customer needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• A master’s degree in business administration or other relevant field.
• Management experience, preferably in an INGO.
• Professional certifications are a plus.
• Specific CRS programming experience.
• Experience with Oracle ERP or similar supply chain management software.
• Good knowledge of and experience in CVA programming and operational requirements.

Basic Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration, other relevant field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of work experience in procurement/purchasing management, logistics, and administration with increasing responsibility, preferably with an international organization.
• Minimum 2 years of experience serving in a mentorship or team leader capacity.