Procurement & Inventory Manager at Kilombero Sugar

Location: Morogoro, Tanzania
Employment Type: Permanent
Workplace Type: Onsite
Job Function: Finance
Level: Senior Manager
Experience Level: Senior Manager

Job Purpose
The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing local Procurement and Inventory operations, ensuring delivery against key performance metrics aligned with the organization’s business strategy. The role involves leveraging analytical data and insights to collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders in forecasting, developing, and implementing effective demand plans.

The candidate will lead, manage, and develop the local Procurement and Inventory teams, ensuring the execution of robust, long-term sourcing strategies that are fully aligned with both Country and Group strategic objectives.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Adopt and embed best practices, minimum standards, policies, processes, tools, systems and enablers (capabilities) shared by Group Procurement & Inventory teams.
• Set goals/KPIs and SLAs aligned to Group standards, then measure, track and manage performance against these KPIs. Work with sub-functions to implement initiatives that improve performance (e.g., OTIF, purchasing speed, increased savings, optimal stock holding, etc.).
• Guide and support operations’ Inventory personnel in managing inventory parameters within the ERP system and optimizing these parameters on an ongoing basis.
• Manage and monitor departmental Procurement & Inventory budgets to ensure seamless operation of the department.
• Oversee Logistics/Customs activities driven through the Inventory team.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders to inform forecasting and demand planning (including off-crop demand planning).
• Communicate Procurement & Inventory processes and ensure compliance from end-users, including tracking and reporting deviations.
• Contribute to development of Country Procurement Category strategy and local commodity sourcing strategy.
• Drive contract management activities and contract compliance with Contracts Specialist teams (including % spend under contract).
• Ensure strong partnership between Contract Specialists and Group Category teams for category strategy input.
• Drive working capital management by optimizing inventory parameters, maintaining service levels, and identifying obsolete/excess inventory for finance provisions.
• Support Inventory Manager in verification and expediting activities according to KPIs and ensure accurate receiving, receipting, issuing, and stock-taking.
• Ensure compliance with FCFQ through engagement with Group and internal audit, including maintaining relevance to systems, policies, and procedures.
• Promote and adhere to company procedures, including SHERQ, Competition Law, and Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC) guidelines.

Must-Have Skills

• Leadership and management skills

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Commerce, Engineering or equivalent.
• 7+ years’ experience in Procurement or Inventory.
• 3+ years in a management role.
• Procurement professional accreditation.