Procurement Manager (Location Agnostic) at MFS Africa

The Role

• We seek an experienced, dynamic, entrepreneurial minded, and commercially savvy Procurement Manager to manage the company’s supply of products and services. Responsibilities will include strategizing to find cost-effective deals and suppliers. The Procurement Manager’s duty is to discover the best ways to manage procurement expenses, so that the company can invest in growth and people.
• Reporting into the Chief Financial Officer, the Procurement Manager acts as the primary point of contact between suppliers and the business and is responsible for the procurement of products and goods for use in the business by identifying potential supplier sources, screening them and negotiating favorable payment terms. Other duties include monitoring supplier performance and ensuring contractual obligations are met.
• This position is location agnostic, and can based in any of the locations MFS Africa has presence: Port Louis, Mauritius; Johannesburg, South Africa; London, UK; Accra, Ghana; Kampala, Uganda or Nairobi, Kenya.

The duties and responsibilities of the role will be as follows:

Manage Supplier Relationships:

• Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure clarity of the specifications and requirements of the company
• Identify potential suppliers based on business and project needs
• Sourcing and engaging reliable suppliers and vendors
• Negotiate contracts, terms and deadlines with suppliers
• Reviewing existing contracts with suppliers and vendors to ensure on-going feasibility
• Work closely with the legal department to ensure contract terms are favorable
• Perform risk management for supply contracts and agreements
• Systematic supplier review, whilst building and maintaining long-term relationships with suppliers

Develop and implement procurement strategies and procedures:

• Control spend within approved budgets and build a culture of long-term saving on procurement costs
• Document procurement procedures and provide regular training to all staff to ensure acceptance and adherence
• Monitor and approve purchase orders to ensure compliance with procedures, and adherence to negotiated pricing and terms
• Monitor and update all departments regarding revised pricing and terms with suppliers
• Track and report key functional metrics to reduce expenses and improve effectiveness
• Implement and manage software systems that track purchase orders, shipments, inventory, and the supply of goods as needed by the Group

Requirements
Skill and Competencies

• Strong understanding of procurement and negotiation techniques
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to travel to meet with suppliers and work outside of normal hours as required

Qualifications and Experience

1. Bachelor’s degree in purchasing management, supply chain management, logistics, business administration or related field required
2. Professional accreditation and membership desired
3. Extensive experience working in the procurement department in a related field
4. Vast experience in procuring goods and services across the African continent
5. Working knowledge of the industry and market conditions

Benefits

• We are highly innovative and were ranked by Fast Company as one of the most innovative companies in the world
• We work at the very cutting edge of fintech in Africa
• We solve relevant problems for Africa and the world. We are building the MFS Africa Hub into a payment infrastructure designed to last 100 years
• We have a culture of care and execution and a very diverse work environment with over 30+ nationalities represented