DescriptionWhy RTI RTI International (RTI) is both a global research institute and a leading international development organization based out of North Carolina. At RTI, you will find work you believe in, tackling some of the most complex global challenges of our time. Our mission is to impact the wellbeing of 1 billion people by 2030 through science-based solutions in climate, education, health, and equity. Our staff promote meaningful change around the world helping people live healthier, more productive, and more independent lives. If you are looking for an opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you. Join us in our commitment to teamwork, belonging, and the passion to change the world. About the Hiring Group RTI's International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. RTI leverages its experience in designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to build resilience and prosperity and promote economic growth and security around the world. Project Description. The purpose of the Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture activity is to increase access to healthy diets, particularly for women and children, by improving competitiveness, inclusiveness, and resilience of the Ethiopian food and agriculture system. The project scope targets private sector partnerships engaged in a market systems approach to strengthening the Ethiopian food system. The project collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture and many other agencies and USAID programs to leverage resources and achieve impact at scale. Position Description. The Senior Procurement Manager is responsible for leading the Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture procurement strategy and implementation to ensure cost-effective, timely, compliant, and ethical acquisition of goods and services. He/She will provide overall management of procurement and logistical needs including but not limited to the processes of procurement (local and international), transport of procured goods, vendor management, risk mitigation and compliance, and aligning sourcing strategies with organizational objectives. The Senior Procurement Manager will oversee all procurement of agricultural-related goods and services for project partners, grantees, and general project implementation. They will drive procurement performance, continuous improvement, and ensure a high degree of accountability from themselves and their team to deliver goods and services to fulfill project needs on time, at the required quality, and in compliance with US government and RTI rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). This position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with frequent travel to project areas in the region and will report to the Deputy Chief of Party, Operations. What You'll Do Your primary responsibilities will include but not be limited to: Procurement and Logistics Strategy, Planning, and Implementation Lead the preparation and implementation of the annual procurement plan for grant and project related procurement supported with budget and timetables Collaborate with technical team to ensure procurement plan factors in seasonality of project and partner focus commodities and other project priorities Oversee all phases of procurement activity while ensuring best value for money and within required lead times for a variety of requirements, including analysis of overall budgetary impact for all types of procurement transactions Review purchase orders in accordance with company policies and procedures Coordinate the clearing and freight forwarding efforts with the RTI Logistics, local authorities/clearing agents, and Home Office Support Team as required Ensure procurement trackers are complete and accurate; Generate weekly and monthly procurement and logistics reports to the DCOPs and COP Vendor and Relationship Management Actively maintain vendor list and strong relationships with key suppliers such as vendors of agricultural inputs (e.g., seeds, fertilizers, tools, machinery and technologies) and services (e.g., transport, training, workshops, surveys) Establish long-term sourcing plans and other approaches to support strategic sourcing and pre-qualification of vendors who are reliable, meet quality standards, and utilize ethical practices Effectively negotiate with suppliers on a wide variety of commodities/goods/materials and services for the best overall value of money to the project Oversee system for supplier performance monitoring to ensure effective and high-quality delivery and proactively resolve any issues Oversee vendor payment monitoring to ensure on-time payment aligned to verifiable goods and services delivered Risk Management and Compliance Understand and ensure compliance with US government policies, RTI policies and procedures, local legal requirements, contracting principles, sourcing and price/cost analysis requirements Identify procurement risks and develop mitigation strategies for risks such as seasonality, inflation, or supply chain disruptions. Monitor agriculture-related market trends and anticipate supply disruptions and pricing shifts Assist in the preparation of requirements of federally funded contracts for consent to subcontract, source and origin waivers, restricted commodity waivers, and budget approvals for non-expendable properties Monitor restricted agriculture commodity utilization against approved client waivers and provide early notification of potential issues Ensure all procurement teams maintain accurate and transparent procurement documentation and reporting for audits, compliance, and internal control. Conduct regular audits of procurement files Systems and Processes Contribute to the supply chain management efforts up to and including logistical support from the ordering point through the follow-up, and delivery of the required goods and/or services through last-mile delivery Liaise with technical team to align procurement with field activities and distribution schedules Contribute to property and inventory control management by sharing key information on purchases and warehouse deliveries with relevant staff Identify opportunities to improve procurement processes, share recommendations, and facilitate updates to SOPs, tools, and resources Ensure adherence to RTI’s procurement and logistics SOPs for commodities/goods/materials and services Team Leadership and Capacity Building Conduct procurement and logistics training workshops for various project teams and for partners to improve understanding of, and compliance with, processes and procedures Supervise and mentor procurement managers and other procurement staff Develop training and continuous improvement programs for the procurement team Foster a high performing, transparent, and ethical procurement culture Resource Utilization Conduct spend analysis and identify opportunities for cost and labor savings through procurement efficiencies Collaborate with finance and program teams to forecast procurement needs and manage budgets. Track procurement spending and report on key performance indicators Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned. What You'll Need Bachelor's Degree and 12 years of experience, Master's degree and 10 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics or related field preferred. Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in procurement, with at least 3 years in a senior or managerial role. Professional certification such as Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), or Project Management Professional (PMP) preferred. Prior experience with RTI and/or Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture preferred. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities An understanding of and commitment to RTI’s mission and values; Proven knowledge of US government and local government procurement policies and regulations; Prior experience managing procurement of food and agriculture-related goods and services, including international and cross-border logistics preferred; Excellent knowledge and strong computer skills of Microsoft Office applications; Strong organizational, reporting and management skills; Strong negotiation and contract management skills; High level of integrity and ethics. Solution-oriented and ability to work under pressure with multiple priorities. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team; Strong verbal and written English and Amharic communication skills required, additional local language a plus; Strong presentation and facilitation skills; Ability to build effective relationships with all suppliers, peers, and other stakeholders; Ability to work hands-on, independently, and within team; Demonstrated success managing and leading teams; Willingness to travel frequently to the field offices
ResponsibilitiesYour primary responsibilities will include but not be limited to: Procurement and Logistics Strategy, Planning, and Implementation Lead the preparation and implementation of the annual procurement plan for grant and project related procurement supported with budget and timetables Collaborate with technical team to ensure procurement plan factors in seasonality of project and partner focus commodities and other project priorities Oversee all phases of procurement activity while ensuring best value for money and within required lead times for a variety of requirements, including analysis of overall budgetary impact for all types of procurement transactions Review purchase orders in accordance with company policies and procedures Coordinate the clearing and freight forwarding efforts with the RTI Logistics, local authorities/clearing agents, and Home Office Support Team as required Ensure procurement trackers are complete and accurate; Generate weekly and monthly procurement and logistics reports to the DCOPs and COP Vendor and Relationship Management Actively maintain vendor list and strong relationships with key suppliers such as vendors of agricultural inputs (e.g., seeds, fertilizers, tools, machinery and technologies) and services (e.g., transport, training, workshops, surveys) Establish long-term sourcing plans and other approaches to support strategic sourcing and pre-qualification of vendors who are reliable, meet quality standards, and utilize ethical practices Effectively negotiate with suppliers on a wide variety of commodities/goods/materials and services for the best overall value of money to the project Oversee system for supplier performance monitoring to ensure effective and high-quality delivery and proactively resolve any issues Oversee vendor payment monitoring to ensure on-time payment aligned to verifiable goods and services delivered Risk Management and Compliance Understand and ensure compliance with US government policies, RTI policies and procedures, local legal requirements, contracting principles, sourcing and price/cost analysis requirements Identify procurement risks and develop mitigation strategies for risks such as seasonality, inflation, or supply chain disruptions. Monitor agriculture-related market trends and anticipate supply disruptions and pricing shifts Assist in the preparation of requirements of federally funded contracts for consent to subcontract, source and origin waivers, restricted commodity waivers, and budget approvals for non-expendable properties Monitor restricted agriculture commodity utilization against approved client waivers and provide early notification of potential issues Ensure all procurement teams maintain accurate and transparent procurement documentation and reporting for audits, compliance, and internal control. Conduct regular audits of procurement files Systems and Processes Contribute to the supply chain management efforts up to and including logistical support from the ordering point through the follow-up, and delivery of the required goods and/or services through last-mile delivery Liaise with technical team to align procurement with field activities and distribution schedules Contribute to property and inventory control management by sharing key information on purchases and warehouse deliveries with relevant staff Identify opportunities to improve procurement processes, share recommendations, and facilitate updates to SOPs, tools, and resources Ensure adherence to RTI’s procurement and logistics SOPs for commodities/goods/materials and services Team Leadership and Capacity Building Conduct procurement and logistics training workshops for various project teams and for partners to improve understanding of, and compliance with, processes and procedures Supervise and mentor procurement managers and other procurement staff Develop training and continuous improvement programs for the procurement team Foster a high performing, transparent, and ethical procurement culture Resource Utilization Conduct spend analysis and identify opportunities for cost and labor savings through procurement efficiencies Collaborate with finance and program teams to forecast procurement needs and manage budgets. Track procurement spending and report on key performance indicators Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned
QualificationBachelor's Degree and 12 years of experience, Master's degree and 10 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics or related field preferred. Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in procurement, with at least 3 years in a senior or managerial role. Professional certification such as Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), or Project Management Professional (PMP) preferred. Prior experience with RTI and/or Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture preferred. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities An understanding of and commitment to RTI’s mission and values; Proven knowledge of US government and local government procurement policies and regulations; Prior experience managing procurement of food and agriculture-related goods and services, including international and cross-border logistics preferred; Excellent knowledge and strong computer skills of Microsoft Office applications; Strong organizational, reporting and management skills; Strong negotiation and contract management skills; High level of integrity and ethics. Solution-oriented and ability to work under pressure with multiple priorities. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team; Strong verbal and written English and Amharic communication skills required, additional local language a plus; Strong presentation and facilitation skills; Ability to build effective relationships with all suppliers, peers, and other stakeholders; Ability to work hands-on, independently, and within team; Demonstrated success managing and leading teams; Willingness to travel frequently to the field offices