Procurement Specialist (6-Month Contract)

Job Description: Procurement Specialist

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced Procurement Specialist to manage end-to-end procurement activities, ensuring timely acquisition of quality goods, works, and services. This role supports business requirements through strategic sourcing, supplier management, and compliance with policies.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Implement procurement policies, procedures, and plans to ensure timely acquisition of quality goods, works, and services in line with business requirements.
• Collaborate with internal departments to understand procurement needs, define specifications, confirm budgets, and support accurate demand planning.
• Undertake local and international sourcing while ensuring compliance with applicable policies, trade regulations, and procurement best practices.
• Identify, prequalify, and onboard compliant suppliers across relevant markets to maintain a competitive, reliable, and sustainable supplier base.
• Develop go-to-market sourcing approaches, conduct supplier benchmarking and market surveys, and recommend strategies to diversify and strengthen the supplier database.
• Coordinate tendering and bidding processes, including preparation of RFQs, RFPs, and TORs, supplier clarifications, evaluations, and award recommendations.
• Conduct commercial analysis of supplier proposals and support technical and financial evaluations in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Negotiate pricing, purchase terms, service levels, and contractual provisions to achieve value for money while mitigating commercial and operational risk.
• Prepare, issue, and track purchase orders and approvals in NetSuite, ensuring timely processing, accurate documentation, and compliance with internal controls.
• Follow up on countersigned purchase orders, delivery and documentation (proof of delivery), GRNs, and billing start dates, particularly for network and recurring services.
• Support cost optimisation initiatives through supplier negotiations, spend analysis, demand reviews, and collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Analyse market, industry, and demand trends and provide insights to support sourcing strategies and management decision-making.
• Prepare and maintain procurement reports and trackers covering sourcing activities, supplier performance, savings, risk, and compliance.
• Monitor supplier performance against agreed requirements, service levels, and delivery timelines, and support corrective actions where required.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders to support service delivery, issue resolution, and continuous improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Professional certification such as CIPS or equivalent is highly desirable.
• Strong proficiency in ERP systems; NetSuite experience is an advantage.

Experience and Skills

• At least 5 years’ experience in procurement and supply chain management, preferably within a multinational, telecommunications, technology, infrastructure, or large corporate environment.
• Strong knowledge of end-to-end procurement processes, including sourcing, tendering, supplier evaluation, negotiation, purchase order management, contract administration, and supplier performance management.
• Proven experience in local and international sourcing, with exposure to suppliers across African, European, and Asian markets.
• Good understanding of procurement compliance, import/export procedures, logistics, global shipping practices, and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Working knowledge of standard contractual terms and conditions, including commercial, service level, and risk mitigation provisions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage supplier relationships, develop sourcing strategies, and support cost optimisation initiatives.
• Experience in telecom-related procurement is highly desirable, including CAPEX for connectivity services, fibre builds, capacity, colocation, network equipment and accessories; data centre infrastructure such as MEPF and fit-out; OPEX categories including operations, administration, IT, marketing, finance and legal services; and logistics services.
• Proficiency in procurement reporting, spend analysis, and use of ERP systems, with NetSuite experience considered an advantage.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multicultural, and cross-functional environment.

Attributes

• Client focused, relationship builder.
• Integrity, honest with high ethical standards.
• Boundless, passionate and flexible.
• Personal excellence, accuracy and attention to detail.
• Collaborative, achieve results through teamwork.