Technical Procurement Specialist

About us

Join us at Songa Mobility as we scale e-mobility, engineering, and manufacturing solutions across Kenya. We need a strategic, technical leader who can:

Build and own a planning-first procurement system (BOMs, BOEs, ERPNext).

Lead end-to-end sourcing, from imports to local supplier management.

Drive inventory forecasting and logistics for hubs and assembly sites.

Work closely with engineering teams to plan every bolt, battery, and trike component.

The Role

We are seeking a
technical and highly proactive Procurement & Supply Chain Manager
to establish and manage Songa's procurement, inventory, and supply chain functions across all hubs and business lines (E-Mobility, Dairy & Agriculture, Engineering & Manufacturing). This role requires a strategic thinker with strong hands-on capability, someone who can set up procurement systems and policies while also rolling up their sleeves to inspect parts, manage supplier negotiations, plan imports, and track stock on the ground.

You will oversee end-to-end sourcing, procurement planning, inventory forecasting, logistics, vendor relations, and ERPNext integration, ensuring a well-structured supply chain to support our growth.

Responsibilities

Procurement Leadership & Strategy

• Build and implement a procurement and supply chain framework from the ground up (policies, SOPs, approval workflows).
• Develop a vendor strategy, lead supplier sourcing, negotiate contracts, and manage global and local supplier networks.
• Create and manage Bills of Materials (BOM) and Bills of Equipment (BOE) for all key assets and components. Ensure BOMs are structured in ERPNext so that fabrication orders automatically check inventory availability and trigger planned purchase orders considering supplier lead times.
• Lead technical sourcing for mobility, trike-building, batteries, spare parts, and manufacturing materials.
• Plan and execute imports, customs clearance, and supplier relationships for international sourcing.
• Negotiate contracts, prices, warranties, and delivery terms.
• Manage purchase requisitions, purchase orders, and supplier contracts.

Inventory, Supply Chain & Demand Planning

• Implement inventory planning, demand forecasting, and stock replenishment for hubs and assembly operations.
• Integrate BOMs and inventory forecasts into ERPNext to align procurement with production schedules and project deployments.
• Lead physical inventory audits, damage tracking, and preventive restocking to eliminate stock-outs.
• Oversee warehouse and hub store management, including logistics and distribution planning.
• Implement supply chain KPIs (stock accuracy, OTIF delivery, stock-out rates) and corrective action plans.
• Establish and oversee stock control systems across hubs (spare parts, trikes, PPE, batteries, etc.).
• Coordinate with hub/store managers to ensure timely and accurate inventory movements.

Logistics & Distribution

• Oversee inbound and outbound logistics for timely supply delivery.
• Ensure smooth distribution of goods and spares across hubs/projects.
• Track shipments and resolve delivery issues with suppliers and transporters.

Systems & Reporting

• Own procurement, planning (BOM/BOE) and inventory workflows in ERPNext, ensuring accurate item master data, GRN/PO cycle compliance, and reporting.
• Ensure ERPNext is used to simulate material requirements, plan purchase orders, and manage lead times.
• Generate reports on procurement spend, supplier performance, and stock status.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with engineering, operations, and finance teams to align purchasing with production schedules, budget planning, and technical specifications.
• Partner with technical , engineering and mobility leads to understand design iterations and anticipate material needs for trike and hardware builds.

Supplier Relations & Networking

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with suppliers and manufacturers.
• Identify and onboard alternative vendors to de-risk the supply chain.
• Represent the organization at supplier visits, trade fairs, and technical procurement forums.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure adherence to company procurement policies and statutory requirements.
• Support internal and external audits on procurement and asset management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in procurement and supply chain roles in technical, engineering, manufacturing, or e-mobility sectors.
• Proven experience in inventory planning, demand forecasting, and procurement systems setup.
• Strong planning and organizational skills with proven ability to build structured BOMs and link them to ERP systems for demand and inventory planning.
• Strong knowledge of procurement best practices, supplier management, cost optimization and contract negotiation.

Technical Skills

• Technical knowledge:
  Understanding of equipment/spares for mobility projects, energy systems (batteries, EV tech), or dairy aggregation machinery.
• Analytical skills: Demand forecasting, stock analysis.
• Proven experience setting up procurement/inventory systems and policies.
• Familiarity with inventory systems (ERPNext experience is a plus).
• Professional certification (e.g., CIPS, KISM) preferred.
• Track record in international sourcing, imports, and vendor negotiations.
• Experience in a startup or growth-stage company (