Supply Chain Lead (Upstream Oil & Gas Waste Management)

Role Overview

This position leads the entire supply chain function for a drilling and hazardous waste management project in Lokichar, Turkana County, covering everything from sourcing and contracting to transportation, warehousing, and supplier oversight. Day to day, you will make sure materials, equipment, and specialist services reach remote operational sites on time, safely, and within budget, while building local supplier capacity and keeping the project fully compliant with Kenyan law and international oil & gas standards. Your work directly determines whether the project runs without costly downtime, regulatory issues, or supply disruptions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute a complete supply chain strategy in close collaboration with project managers and operational leadership, balancing cost control, safety, and operational continuity across all project phases.
• Own the full procurement cycle — sourcing, tendering, supplier evaluation, negotiation, purchase order issuance, and contract administration — for drilling equipment, consumables, specialized services, hazardous waste handling, transport, treatment, and disposal.
• Establish procurement policies, standard operating procedures, governance frameworks, and performance metrics that align with company requirements and industry best practice, and continuously improve them.
• Identify, vet, and manage both local and international suppliers, driving local content initiatives and structured supplier development programs that strengthen the regional supply base.
• Negotiate and manage framework agreements, service contracts, and supplier terms to secure the best combination of cost, quality, delivery performance, and long-term value.
• Coordinate all inbound and outbound logistics for hazardous and non-hazardous materials, including specialized haulage, route planning, permit coordination, customs clearance, and contractor logistics performance in remote conditions.
• Set up and run warehousing and inventory control operations — including hazardous materials storage, quarantine zones, consumables management, cycle counting, stock reconciliation, and material forecasting — to ensure availability without excess stock.
• Track critical equipment, fleet, tools, and spare parts through asset management systems, coordinating maintenance planning and ensuring operational readiness.
• Monitor supplier performance through KPIs, audits, service reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives, enforcing contractual compliance and HSE standards across all third-party providers.
• Ensure all supply chain activities comply with Kenyan procurement regulations, environmental legislation, hazardous waste transport requirements, and project-specific HSE policies, with proper documentation for audits and inspections.
• Own the supply chain budget, track expenditure, identify cost-saving opportunities, and drive digitalization through ERP and procurement system improvements, while preparing periodic management reports on procurement, logistics, inventory, compliance, and cost performance.
• Build, mentor, and develop the procurement, logistics, warehouse, and supply chain team, fostering integrity, accountability, continuous improvement, and HSE excellence.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field; a Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Professional certification in supply chain or procurement (CIPS, CPSP, CPP, or equivalent) is preferred.
• Formal training or certification in hazardous materials handling, dangerous goods transportation, or hazardous waste management is highly desirable.
• Minimum 8–12 years of progressive experience in supply chain, procurement, logistics, or contract management, with at least 5 years in upstream oil & gas, drilling, hazardous waste management, mining, construction, or heavy industrial projects.
• Proven experience establishing or leading supply chain operations in remote, project-based environments.
• Hands-on experience across procurement, tendering, supplier development, contract administration, logistics coordination, warehousing, and inventory management.
• Strong working knowledge of hazardous waste regulations, dangerous goods transportation requirements, and environmental compliance — particularly Kenyan legislation.
• Practical experience managing third-party logistics providers, waste treatment contractors, and specialist service providers.
• Familiarity with ERP systems, procurement platforms, inventory management tools, and supply chain reporting software.
• Deep understanding of Kenyan procurement regulations, local content requirements, and supply chain governance.
• Excellent commercial acumen, negotiation, stakeholder management, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, remote, and demanding project environments while maintaining rigorous safety and compliance standards.