Procurement Assistant at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) - 2 Openings

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Procurement Assistant

Ref No.: STS2023-010
Location: Ibadan, Oyo
Recruitment Type: STS-National (6-month renewable contract)
Slot: 2 Openings

Duties

• Maintain accurate and precise record, ensure activity tracking, and demonstrate methodology.
• Work cross-functionally with IITA colleagues to ensure requirements for all areas are met effectively and on time.
• Assist in developing and maintaining documented standards for procurement governance and processes, resulting in value for money and outcomes, and minimizing procurement risk.
• Ensure on-time delivery, challenging non-compliance in areas of responsibility, purchase order progress monitoring and updating.
• Monitor and track daily/weekly supplier deliveries by liaising with the Shipping Office, IITA Limited staff, and the receiving section of the stores.
• Develop and maintain a reporting system that measures the contribution of the procurement processes.
• Promote excellent customer service, identify, review, and implement strategies to improve service quality and efficiency.
• Maintain strong team relationships among colleagues and community groups on a formal and informal basis across all levels.
• Review tender documents for compliance with stipulated standards.
• Manage contracts assigned to vendors/contractors to ensure compliance with specifications, service quality, and delivery standards.
• Work in line with SOP 16 No 6 and map out tracking strategy or methods by hierarchy or position, value criticality, and importance.
• Facilitate expenditure reviews to identify opportunities to add value through improved procurement techniques.
• Ensure the security of the department property and assets and maintain a commitment to the care of all property and assets.
• Active involvement in the procurement of cloud storage systems.
• Attending to vendors/visitors, moving procurement memos to Finance Directorate for payment process, issuing POs to vendors, and providing customer service to all categories of internal and external customers.
• Assist the support office in organizing work schedules, meetings, seminars, workshops, and raise requisition (internal and RFP).
• Perform any other job-related task as may be assigned by the Supervisors.

Qualifications

• National Diploma in Public or Business Administration, Accounting/Finance, or related field with a minimum of three (3) years’ experience performing a similar role in a well-structured environment.

Competencies:
The ideal candidate must:

• Have good communication skills (writing, reading, and speaking).
• Have strong negotiation skills, good time management skills, strategic thinking and risk management skills.
• Have a good understanding of the supply market intelligence and must be familiar with technology and systems for procurement.
• Have the ability to collaborate effectively and have performance metrics analysis skills.

Remuneration
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Application Closing Date
26th May, 2023.