SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGER-UPL

Job Description

We are seeking a strategic and operationally excellent Supply Chain Manager to lead end-to-end supply chain operations across East Africa. This senior leadership role demands exceptional expertise in inventory management, strategic sourcing, logistics coordination, and regional market dynamics.

Managing Materials and Finished Goods Inventory

• Lead the receiving team, planning workflows and delegating responsibilities to ensure efficient, accurate intake operations
• Develop staffing plans and resource allocation for peak receiving periods

• Set standards for warehouse organization, bin location systems, and storage optimization
• Monitor performance against space utilization, retrieval efficiency, and safety metrics
• Drive continuous improvement in warehouse layout and material handling processes

• Coordinate cross-functionally with production planning, procurement, and finance on inventory strategy
• Optimize stock levels, reduce carrying costs, and minimize obsolescence risk
• Lead cycle count programs and inventory accuracy initiatives

• Exercise budget responsibility with authority for local decision-making on inventory investments and operational expenditures
• Approve material allocations and prioritize issuance based on production criticality

• Apply deep East Africa market awareness to optimize dispatch scheduling, route planning, and customer prioritization
• Ensure seamless coordination between production completion and customer delivery

Sourcing Materials at Optimal Cost and Quality

• Lead the sourcing team, planning category strategies and delegating supplier management responsibilities
• Build robust local supplier networks to reduce lead times and import dependency

• Set standards for international procurement processes, Incoterms application, and import documentation
• Monitor performance of import suppliers against cost, quality, and delivery KPIs

• Coordinate cross-functionally with quality, R&D, and finance on supplier score carding and development programs
• Lead strategic supplier relationships and negotiate framework agreements

• Hold budget responsibility with local decision-making authority for procurement expenditures and payment terms
• Approve high-value purchase orders and exception handling

• Leverage East Africa market awareness to identify cost optimization opportunities, alternative suppliers, and regional sourcing advantages
• Drive year-over-year cost reduction while maintaining quality standards

Delivering Products to Customers Across East Africa

• Lead the logistics team, planning transport capacity and delegating route optimization and carrier management
• Oversee fleet utilization, third-party logistics relationships, and transport cost management

• Set standards for cross-border documentation, EAC compliance, and international shipping protocols
• Monitor performance of clearing agents, freight forwarders, and regional carriers

• Coordinate cross-functionally with sales, customer service, and production on delivery scheduling and priority management
• Drive on-time delivery performance and customer satisfaction metrics

• Exercise budget responsibility with local authority for service recovery expenditures and customer accommodation decisions
• Approve compensation, expedited shipping, or special handling for critical customer situations

• Apply East Africa market awareness to design efficient returns processes, managing regulatory requirements and customer expectations
• Optimize reverse logistics for product returns, recycling, and waste management

Understanding Kenyan/EAC Business Environment, Regulations, and Cultural Context

• Leverage regional knowledge for competitive advantage in supply chain design, sourcing strategies, and logistics network optimization
• Manage regulatory relationships with KRA, EAC customs authorities, standards bodies, and trade associations
• Navigate complex compliance requirements and influence policy developments affecting supply chain operations

Using ERP, MIS and Digital Tools Effectively

• Serve as system administrator for supply chain modules within ERP (inventory, procurement, logistics)
• Lead workflow design for supply chain processes, ensuring system-enabled efficiency and control
• Manage integration between ERP, WMS, TMS, and business intelligence platforms
• Act as primary vendor liaison for supply chain technology providers, driving system enhancements and support

Clear Communication Across Diverse Stakeholders in Multicultural Environment

• Apply complex problem-solving to supply chain disruptions, capacity constraints, and strategic challenges
• Make data-driven decisions using analytics, forecasting tools, and performance dashboards
• Effectively manage uncertainty in volatile markets, currency fluctuations, and supply disruptions

Additional Responsibilities

• Coach others in supply chain principles, decision-making frameworks, and professional development