Deputy Director, Supply Chain Management

Role Overview

This position heads the procurement and supply chain function, turning Kenya's public procurement law and regulation into everyday practice across the organisation. The holder runs the end-to-end cycle for goods and services — planning, tendering, contracting, store disposal and asset record-keeping — while acting as the technical adviser and secretariat that keeps procurement committees, user departments and the legal team working from the same rulebook. The role matters because every shilling committed through procurement passes a compliance and value-for-money test that this office is ultimately responsible for.

Key Responsibilities

• Interpret national procurement statutes, regulations, procedures and guidelines and convert them into practical internal working instructions that departments can follow.
• Manage the complete tender cycle for goods and services — requisition review, specification confirmation, advertisement, evaluation, award recommendation and notification — keeping each stage inside the legally prescribed timelines.
• Review and approve purchase orders and requisitions after confirming budget cover, the correct sourcing method and demonstrable value for money.
• Partner with the legal office and user departments to draft, negotiate, execute and monitor procurement contracts, including variations, renewals and supplier performance follow-up.
• Build the annual procurement plan jointly with user departments and drive its execution so demand is consolidated and delivery lead times are respected.
• Champion the rollout of e-procurement tools and digital record-keeping, and oversee the systems and controls that protect procurement records and the organisation's assets.
• Serve as secretariat to the procurement committees — preparing agendas and papers, recording minutes and tracking implementation of committee decisions.
• Coordinate the identification, valuation and disposal of unserviceable, obsolete or surplus stores in line with the applicable regulations, and keep the assets register current as required by the Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.

Requirements & Qualifications

• At least fifteen (15) years of cumulative supply chain management experience, of which a minimum of three (3) years must have been served at the grade of Assistant Director, Supply Chain Management or in a comparable senior position.
• A Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement and Logistics, Commerce or Business Administration (Purchasing and Supplies option), or an equivalent qualification from a recognised institution.
• A Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Contract Management, Procurement and Logistics, Commerce or Business Administration (Purchasing and Supplies option), or an equivalent qualification from a recognised institution.
• Membership of the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM), the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) or another relevant professional body.
• A valid practising licence from the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management.
• Completion of a leadership or management course lasting not less than four (4) weeks.
• Working knowledge of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015 and its supporting Regulations.
• Proficiency in computer applications, including procurement and records management systems used in a public sector environment.