Sourcing & Procurement Officer

Sourcing & Procurement Officer

Direct Line Reporting: Product Manager

Industry Sector: Retail / E-Commerce / Cosmetics & FMCG

Gross Salary Structure: KSh 25,000 – 30,000

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly proactive, commercially minded Sourcing & Procurement Officer to anchor the supply lines and vendor acquisition functions of our fast-growing beauty e-commerce platform. Your primary focus will be to discover, evaluate, and onboard trusted domestic and international suppliers of premium skincare, haircare, cosmetics, and wellness products. This position bridges meticulous market research with aggressive commercial negotiation; you will assess product sample quality, negotiate favorable bulk margins, and forecast stock replenishment cycles to keep our digital shelves fully optimized. The role demands an organized, analytical individual who understands inventory management mechanics, possesses strong Excel skills, and thrives in a fast-paced retail consumer goods environment.

Core Competencies

Vendor Discovery & Product Sourcing

• Scout, vet, and onboard reliable local and international manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers within the personal care and beauty space.
• Analyze product catalogs, request chemical/ingredient compliance sheets, and secure product samples to verify authenticity and shelf-life metrics.
• Run rigorous evaluations on supplier lead times, minimum order quantities (MOQs), and financial reliability before drafting purchase agreements.
• Expand the platform's product portfolio by actively discovering emerging, high-demand indie beauty brands and wellness lines.

Commercial Negotiation & Purchasing

• Negotiate competitive unit pricing, favorable trade credit terms, and reliable supply framework agreements to maximize corporate profit margins.
• Review, cross-examine, and balance multiple vendor quotations to extract the absolute best cost-to-benefit ratio for the platform.
• Nurture open, long-term strategic supplier alliances to insulate the business against sudden price hikes or shipping delays.
• Mediate vendor dispute loops, addressing damaged product arrivals, order shortfalls, or delayed dispatches immediately.

Inventory Analysis & Replenishment Tracking

• Monitor live e-commerce stock movements continuously to identify high-velocity stock turnarounds and slow-moving items.
• Partner with the Product Manager to build data-driven inventory forecasts, preventing expensive stockouts and minimizing storage holding costs.
• Generate and dispatch accurate purchase orders (POs), cross-checking physical warehouse arrivals against invoice parameters.
• Ensure efficient, timely transit tracking for inbound shipments to synchronize product arrivals with active online marketing campaigns.

Market Intelligence & Competitor Audits

• Conduct methodical digital retail sweeps to monitor competitor pricing matrices, bundled offers, and product line adjustments.
• Track local consumer purchasing behaviors, seasonal beauty spikes, and viral social media cosmetics trends to inform buying choices.
• Extract operational metrics from monthly procurement reports, highlighting cost-saving avenues and vendor performance ratings for executive review.

Skills & Experience Required

Minimum Entry Criteria

• Academic & Professional Grounding: Credentials in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Commerce, or a directly matching field.
• Analytical Toolkit: High proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, data filtering) paired with strong administrative reporting capabilities.
• Sector Familiarity: Functional knowledge of inventory planning frameworks, lead-time calculations, and e-commerce stock rotation mechanics. Experience or active exposure within retail, fashion, FMCG, or cosmetics sectors is a distinct advantage.
• Geographic Alignment: Fully operational within Nairobi, Kenya, with the ability to maintain regular full-time business hours (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM).

Personal & Behavioral Traits

• Commercial Insight: Deeply numbers-driven with a natural ability to dissect pricing structures and secure highly profitable deals.
• Structural Order: Highly organized multi-tasker capable of tracking dozens of active supplier samples, shipping manifests, and quotations simultaneously.
• Cosmetics Passion: Genuine interest in consumer goods, skincare trends, and modern beauty industry innovations.

What We Offer

• E-Commerce Scaling Exposure: Gain hands-on experience inside a fast-growing digital beauty brand, mastering modern multi-channel sourcing structures.
• Portfolio Ownership: Take direct charge of product categories, enjoying the creative and commercial freedom to introduce new lines to the Kenyan consumer market.
• Dynamic Mentorship: Accelerate your supply chain career by working closely with experienced product management and marketing teams in a supportive environment.

Way to Apply

Kindly submit your resume via email, stating the position title in the subject line. Profiles are being reviewed on a rolling basis.