Central Procurement Manager

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Job Title: Central Procurement Manager

Reports to: Country General Manager (GM)

Work Location: Mombasa or Nairobi (with travel across Kenya and the region as needed)

Role Purpose:

To provide strategic leadership of sourcing, procurement and supplier-management activities for iColo (a Digital Realty company). The role establishes and enforces procurement policies that comply with respective country regulatory framework, iColo's Code of Conduct and ESG commitments and international best practices. The manager will build a diversified supplier base, oversee competitive tenders, drive sustainable procurement and ensure robust internal controls by separating requisition, evaluation and award functions.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Procurement Management

• Develop and execute procurement strategies that support operational needs, CAPEX projects and overall business priorities.
• Drive annual category planning, spend analysis and market intelligence across key procurement areas.
• Lead sourcing for all procurement categories across DC operations, projects, IT, marketing, HR, CIM and admin.
• Ensure procurement decisions are objective, competitive and compliant with local laws and global governance.
• Promote fair and transparent sourcing, strengthening procurement integrity and reducing overreliance on any single supplier.

2. Procurement IT System Implementation

• Map and standardize procurement workflows across Kenya and Mozambique.
• Configure controls, approval thresholds, documentation standards and audit trails within the system.
• Lead training and change management to ensure business-wide compliance.
• Continuously improve system utilization for efficiency and governance.

3. Materials Procurement and Sourcing

• Manage procurement of materials, parts and components for facility operations and construction projects.
• Ensure specifications, scopes of work and technical requirements are clearly defined and aligned with engineering and project standards.
• Conduct structured sourcing processes including RFQs, RFPs and competitive evaluations.
• Maintain procurement documentation that meets both internal requirements and external audit readiness.

 4. Purchase Order (PO) Management

• Oversee the end-to-end PO lifecycle from requisition to closure.
• Ensure all purchases align with approved budgets and follow proper coding and documentation.
• Work with Finance to ensure correct GL alignment, accruals, reconciliations and timely supplier payments.
• Maintain disciplined, process-led purchasing across the business.

5. Delivery and Logistics Management

• Coordinate delivery timelines, shipment tracking, logistics and goods receipt processes.
• Ensure deliveries meet expected lead times, technical specifications and quality requirements.
• Resolve issues related to damaged goods, shortages or warranty claims with minimal operational disruption.
• Maintain accurate inventory and asset records where applicable.

6. Supplier Management and Consolidation

• Build and maintain a compliant supplier roster with proper due diligence, KYC and statutory verification.
• Assess suppliers' financial, technical, operational and safety capabilities.
• Manage supplier performance through structured scorecards, SLAs, KPIs and periodic business reviews.
• Consolidate suppliers strategically to optimize value, reduce risk and streamline operations.

7. Procurement Governance and Controls

• Strengthen procurement process controls by embedding proper oversight and independent checkpoints throughout the cycle.
• Ensure all transactions follow documented workflows with consistent adherence across teams.
• Promote accountability, procurement ethics and anti-bribery compliance.
• Support internal and external audits with complete and accurate documentation.

8. Contract and Commercial Management

• Support negotiation and drafting of commercial terms, contract renewals, amendments and performance obligations.
• Monitor contract validity, renewal timelines, obligations and risk exposures.
• Ensure service providers meet contractual commitments and SLAs.

9. Reporting and Analytics

• Prepare weekly, monthly and quarterly procurement reports covering spend, compliance, supplier performance, cost savings, cycle times and risks.
• Provide insights to enable decision-making for the Management and all cross-function teams.
• Maintain procurement dashboards and audit-ready documentation.

1o. Operational Improvements

• Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies and risks in the procurement lifecycle.
• Recommend and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead procurement training for operational teams to strengthen documentation quality and process discipline.
• Regularly benchmark procurement practices with industry peers and global DLR standards.

11. Regional and Global Alignment

• Serve as the central procurement lead across Kenya and Mozambique, ensuring consistency in procurement practices.
• Participate in regional and global procurement transformation and digitalization projects.

Qualifications and Competencies:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Procurement and Supplies Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance or related field; Master's degree is an advantage.
• Certification and Licensing: Full membership of the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) or Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) with a valid practising licence. Must satisfy Chapter Six of the Constitution regarding leadership and integrity.
• Experience: 7–10 years' procurement/supply-chain experience (3–5 years at a leadership level) with exposure to P2P or e-procurement systems; experience in critical infrastructure, datacentre or technology industries is highly desirable.
• Knowledge: Deep understanding of respective country procurement laws and regulations. Familiarity with labour, environmental, customs and transport laws affecting logistics. Knowledge of datacentre/ICT procurement trends and sustainable procurement guidelines.
• Technical skills: Proficiency in procurement systems (IFMIS, Oracle, SAP), MS Office and data-analysis tools. Ability to implement modern technologies (AI/ML, blockchain) for procurement efficiency.
• Leadership and interpersonal skills: Strong negotiation, communication and stakeholder-management skills. Ability to lead diverse teams, manage conflict, uphold integrity and navigate complex regulatory environments.
• Analytical and reporting skills: Ability to analyse spend data, prepare statutory reports and generate insights for strategic decision-making. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving and risk-management capabilities.
• Personal attributes: Ethical, proactive, resilient and adaptable. Committed to value-for-money, sustainability, inclusive procurement and continuous improvement.

Deadline for Applications is Monday,15th December 2025.