Ghana GPO Commodity Buyer

The successful candidate must have the appropriate knowledge and business acumen to grow into a strategic procurement level, although he/she will have to execute his/her own transactional data. This is a senior position within the realm of procurement. The Commodity Buyer will be responsible to facilitate a cross functional team [or teams] to optimize total cost of ownership for a specific group of commodities. The incumbent will be facilitating agreement on functional specifications, finding suppliers, negotiating terms, purchasing the goods or services, follow through on the payment process, and measure and report on the relevant Key Performance Indicator’s (KPI’s).


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead a cross functional team, to optimize the value that strategic procurement can bring (40%)
• Processes and completes purchase orders; determines prices from available suppliers which meet cost and quality guidelines; places orders; verifies receipt of purchase. This is the daily transactional activity that is required.
• Becomes knowledgeable in the purchasing system used at the Global Procurement Office (GPO).
• Sets purchasing savings and operational targets that agree with GSCM Leadership
• Track realized savings and operational performance against targets
• Identify and implement performance improvement initiatives continuously
• Attend management meetings with the GPO team
• Work alongside the other members of the GPO team
• Carry out additional responsibilities and projects as assigned, including administrative and planning functions
  
  Supports internal customers /clients in their procurement needs (20%)
• Demonstrates a proactive approach in meeting internal customers /clients expectations by creating operational agreements to manage expectations
• Attends client's/department meetings in support of the client's strategy where GSCM can play a strategic role
• Participates and contributes in regional SCM forums and professional procurement networks where appropriate
• Manages communication with management between the Global Centre, Regional Offices and National Offices’
• Responds to customers /clients inquiries regarding GPO processes and status of orders
  
  Defines and implements procurement strategies for global, regional, and local implementation for specified commodity or commodities (20%)
  Develops sourcing strategies:
  • Conducts rigorous analysis of spend data and supply market dynamics to identify and prioritize sourcing initiatives
  • Monitors industry pricing complexity through detailed and frequent analysis of assigned commodity items
  • Identifies, explores and develops contingency plans and prime and alternate sources of supply products/services
  • Serves as the Procurement expert for commodities assigned
    
  Manages Procurement and Contract Negotiation Processes
  • Facilitates the procurement and bidding process for materials/products/services through formal and informal Request for Quotes (RFQs) and/or Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and ensure adherence to policies, guidelines or standards from which vendors are selected
  • Liaise with legal for the negotiation of large agreements to ensure favorable commercial terms, risk mitigation and robust ongoing service level agreements are incorporated
    
• Coordinates procurement strategies aligned with Gift-In-Kind operations when applicable
  
  Manages supplier relationships and performance (10%)
• Evaluates actual and potential supplier cost factors (due diligence) to determine price relationships, supply capability, price competitiveness, financial stability and determines their qualifications to provide goods and services
• Leverages supplier expertise to develop recommendations and value engineering improvements to reduce costs and improve efficiencies
• Manages /evaluates contract compliance and vendor performance and take necessary corrective actions to strengthen relationship
  
  Provides management activity reports on a monthly basis. (5%)
• Project status reports to management and key purchasing stakeholders (internal customers/clients)
• Provides monthly activities report
• Submit monthly key performance indicator reports as identified by GSCM leadership
  
  Learning and growth (5%)
• Identify competency and skills gaps within Procurement function
• Facilitate Procurement and personal development to close the gaps
• Provide input into the GSCM Community of Practice (CoP), process manuals and skills development material
• Provide input and leadership to global, regional and national offices to share leading Procurement and Supply Chain Management

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

REQUIRED:
• University degree in business administration, or procurement / sourcing (i.e. BA, BSc or B.Com degree)
• Vocational or professional society membership [e.g. Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, (CIPS) or equivalents]
• Demonstrate capability in the following technical areas:
  • Strategic Sourcing
  • Negotiation techniques
  • Contracting
  • Purchasing processes
  • Vendor Relationship Management
  • Problem solving
  • Listening skills
  • Service orientation
  • Decision making skills
• Excellent planning/prioritization skills
• Ability to multitask and maintain by adapting to change
• Ability to interact, influence and persuade with all organizational levels and demonstrate a professional presence
• Demonstrates risk and financial modeling skills
• Ability to interpret and utilize key financial data
• Proficiency with Procurement systems and sourcing tools/processes
• Keen customer focus on internal/external stakeholders
  
  PREFERRED:
• Post Graduate Certification as a professional in procurement / sourcing (e.g. ECBL CIPS ISM etc.)

GhanaGPO Commodity Buyer