Procurement Assistant at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a non-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. For more information, please visit http://www.iita.org.

IITA is seeking to employ the services of fully qualified and experienced Zambian nationals to fill up the following positions at its Lusaka Station:

PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT – REF NO: SARAH/PA/10/19

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Hub Administrator and in coordination with the Internal Procurement Committee, the Procurement Assistant will be responsible for designing and implementing a sound procurement system following IITA’s Standard Operating Procedures.

Major duties and responsibilities:

• Assist in the development and maintenance of documented standards for procurement governance and procurement processes which result in value for money outcomes and minimize procurement risk.
• Develop and maintain organizational procurement capacity by providing training and support to staff regarding procurement processes and governance.
• Provide operational support and advice to the Internal Procurement Committee and staff in relation to procurement, contracting and contactors management.
• Establish and maintain a Contact Register of prospective, potential and existing sources of supply.
• Place tender advertisements, review tender documents, and coordinate tender evaluation processes to ensure best practices in tendering and contracting.
• Manage the record keeping requirements of the tender and contracting processes.
• Utilize risk management skills to ensure contractors and suppliers always have appropriate insurance/work cover/bonds.
• Promote excellent customer service, identify, review and implement strategies to improve service, quality and efficiency.
• Perform all other related duties that may be assigned from time to time by the supervisor

Qualification and Experience

• A minimum of Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply (Preferred),
• Advanced Diploma in Business Administration or equivalent qualification.
• At least three (3) or more years of professional experience in an International Organization in Supply Chain duties. Knowledge and experience in purchasing under donor funded projects is desirable.
• Member of the Zambia Institute of Purchasing and Supply (ZIPS)
• Good computer skills in common word processing (MS Word), spreadsheet (MS Excel), and accounting software.

General information: The employment contracts are for an initial period of three years. Renewal is dependent on performance and availability of funds.

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