Procurement & Supply Chain Lead (Upstream Oil & Gas Project)

Role Overview

The Procurement & Supply Chain Lead owns the buying and supply agenda for an upstream waste management project, steering everything from demand planning and sourcing through contracting, delivery, and ongoing supplier performance. Based at the Nairobi head office with frequent trips to Lokichar and supplier sites, the role holder keeps project and operations teams equipped with the goods, equipment, materials, and services they need without losing sight of budget, schedule, or compliance. The position matters because it converts scattered requests from across the business into a single, auditable supply pipeline that withstands regulatory scrutiny and keeps field operations running.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate project milestones, approved budgets, and operational priorities into rolling procurement plans, aggregating demand from user departments and setting sourcing priorities around genuine lead times.
• Run the acquisition cycle for assigned categories — requisition review, market engagement, RFQ or tender issuance, bid evaluation, commercial negotiation, purchase order release — and then track open orders and expected arrival dates alongside Logistics, Inventory, and Warehouse colleagues to confirm goods are received as promised.
• Identify, vet, and onboard suppliers and service providers, keep the approved vendor register current, carry out capability checks and periodic performance reviews, and resolve underperformance or contractual shortfalls when they arise.
• Strengthen relationships with key suppliers while deliberately opening doors for capable local vendors, and flag supply continuity threats with practical mitigation options before they affect the project.
• Commission and administer framework, service, and purchase agreements in partnership with Legal and Finance, monitor adherence to agreed terms and service levels, track expiry dates, and escalate material commercial or contractual exposure to the Project Manager.
• Protect compliance on every transaction — company policy, delegated approval limits, Kenyan regulatory and local content obligations, and ethical sourcing standards — while keeping records, documentation, and audit trails complete enough to satisfy internal, external, and regulatory review.
• Watch spend against budget, monitor supplier pricing and market movements, and issue regular reports covering savings achieved, outstanding orders, supplier performance, and procurement risk; ensure ERP entries and supporting trackers stay accurate.
• Refine procurement SOPs, controls, and turnaround times, monitor KPIs such as cost, lead time, compliance, and process efficiency, and lead, coach, and develop Procurement Officers, Logistics Coordinators, Warehouse Supervisors, and other assigned supply chain staff while working closely with Finance, HSE, Operations, Legal, Facilities, and Project Management.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Logistics, Business Administration, or a closely related discipline; a Master's degree is an added advantage.
• Professional procurement or supply chain certification such as CIPS, CPSP, CPP, or an equivalent qualification is preferred, and further training in contract management, oil & gas procurement, or supply chain management is beneficial.
• A minimum of 6–10 years of progressive procurement and supply chain experience, with demonstrated ownership of complete sourcing cycles — tendering, supplier evaluation, negotiation, purchasing, and delivery.
• Proven track record in supplier assessment, contract administration, commercial negotiation, procurement planning, and cost control.
• Exposure to oil & gas, mining, construction, industrial operations, waste management, or a comparable environment is preferred; experience standing up procurement for a new project or operational set-up is an advantage.
• Practical, hands-on command of ERP systems, procurement platforms, Microsoft Office, and procurement reporting tools.
• Solid grasp of procurement governance and documentation requirements, together with applicable Kenyan regulatory and local content rules.
• Strong commercial judgement, negotiation, analytical, stakeholder management, planning, and problem-solving abilities.
• Comfort operating in a fast-moving, developing project setting while holding firm on compliance, integrity, HSE, and operational performance standards.