The company opened its first manufacturing facility in Mombasa, Kenya, in 1962, rapidly widening its reach to include further countries in East Africa, and then Southern Africa. In 2003, all operating companies were reversed into the current holding company called Safal Investments Mauritius Limited and conduct its business across Africa as the Safal Group.Today, the Safal Group manufactures in 10 African countries and sells and markets its building solutions across the continent.   Key responsibilities: Procurement Timely procurement of material and services at the most competitive rates without compromising on quality. Enhance the process efficiency of PR to PO and fulfil the procurement requirements on time at an optimised cost without compromising on quality. Ensure adherence to the procurement policy and SOP, and that minimum audit observations are made during internal/external audits. Identify & implement opportunities for Cost optimization and efforts to bring down the total time of the SCM cycle. Effectively manage the urgent requirement & uncertainty by making effective coordination with Internal Customers to know the priority of their requirements. New Vendor Development on a continuous basis to source better quality products and services, and reduce lead time. Select, evaluate and maintain relations with vendors through periodic performance reviews Negotiate terms of contracts and deliveries that are favourable for the company and comply with local laws and regulations Meeting with Internal Customer for Dispatch / Delivery status, updates of Projects, Process Improvement, etc., to achieve overall customer satisfaction. Secure material availability in accordance with the Material Requirements Plan (MRP). Monitor pricing trends of various materials & commodities and take actions to minimise negative impacts. Liaise with the Shipping Companies, transporters and other parties involved for smooth clearance of goods and delivery to the plant(s) Develop and maintain effective relations with local customs authorities and KRA, ensuring that Import Duties and Taxes are paid Ensure (if applicable) all the Bonds given to the government in respect of purchased materials are properly accounted for and cancelled after their utilisation Achieve Cost Savings on the procurement of goods and services through effective negotiation, new vendor development, material planning and value engineering. Manage and plan minimum stock balances to ensure supplier lead times and stock holding policies are maintained to avoid any stockouts. Strict control and monitoring of Inventory lying at warehouses is being done before ordering any fresh material in order to avoid duplication and reduce the inventory level. Supply Chain Administration Adhere to Company standards and policies in addition to all regulatory requirements Support and implement Company initiatives to achieve performance, quality and safety metrics Contribute to periodic departmental and company planning and budgeting cycles, including the annual Business Plan Process (BPP) Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and Vendors to create strategic value, risk management, and gain a competitive advantage for the organization. Implement and drive a continuous improvement program in the procurement function and establish a high level of performances & standards. Motivating, organizing and encouraging teamwork within the workforce to ensure set productivity targets are met. Select, evaluate and develop department employees, following general HR policies Evaluate the training needs of all staff reporting to the position and ensure appropriate plans are in place Maintain 100% accuracy in documentation, data management and compliance with SOPs. Proactively monitor procurement operational and financial performance, and develop personal and departmental action plans to achieve targets set for the department Actively support the BU management team in implementing BU- and company-wide policies/procedures and action plans Collaborate with the group procurement head and the Procurement managers of other Safal group companies on sharing best practices and improving performance Ensure the safeguard and security of the Company assets Ensure that adequate insurance policy cover is arranged by the company for goods in transit and in stores Compliance of Legal Agreements as per SOP and ensure effective monitoring & tracking of Legal Agreements across function. Requirements Qualifications required: Minimum academic qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Business Management Qualifications as an added advantage: Certified Course in Supply Chain Professional registration: IIMM / IFPSM / CIPS / APICS Experience required: General work experience (years): 10+ years in ERP-based Supply Chain Specific to the position (level/discipline/years): 5 years in a similar role Industry: Manufacturing, Consumer goods Key competencies and skills: Negotiation skills Analytical skills Problem-solving skills Planning & organizing skills Team leadership skills Conflict resolution skills Effective communication skills Business Acumen Customer Focus Computer literacy: End user of the ERP System is Must – SAP ERP System preferably Personality profile: Positive Collaborative Fast-paced and prompt Drive for results Energetic and Enthusiastic Taking ownership and being committed Additional/specific work requirements: High level of integrity. Able to build bridges between various operational departments Knowledge of Lean Tools – Six Sigma, KAIZEN, 8 Waste (Muda), 5S, etc. Adaptability and flexibility in an environment of change Functional Excellence – Keen to learn the latest developments and new things in functions Innovation – looking at new ways of doing things Business Acumen – Understanding critical leverage points of Business. Drive for results – Demonstrating extraordinary levels of energy & efforts Customer Focus – Actively looking for ways to increase value and satisfaction for customers Taking ownership – Display commitment and go the extra mile to achieve the target. Excellent knowledge and understanding of end-to-end Supply Chain processes and best practices in a Lean Manufacturing environment. Effective Communication Skills Detail-oriented and able to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Effective Stakeholder Management and Good Interpersonal Skills Must be analytical and systems-oriented. Timely decision-making and managing uncertainty in the supply chain Success as Role: Improved Productivity Increased Sales Reduce stock-outs and backorders. Cost savings/optimisation (%) PR~PO Process Efficiency as per agreed SLA New Vendor Development and Vendor Performance Evaluation Timely availability of the material