Procurement & Logistics Coordinator, Uganda

Who We Are! 

🌍 Africa has the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population. By 2035, the continent is poised to contribute more people to the global workforce each year than the rest of the world combined. At Educate! we're obsessed with impact. We leverage iterative learning to build highly scalable youth employment solutions aimed at unlocking the potential of the world’s youngest continent. 

Educate! prepares youth in Africa to learn, earn and thrive in today’s economy by: 

1. Introducing an employment-focused school subject into secondary and 
2. Delivering livelihood Boot Camps for out-of-school youth, with a focus on marginalized rural girls and young women.

So far, we’ve impacted over 250,000 youth across Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya—and the largest youth employment and skills provider in East Africa. Our team of over 250 largely African staff and 300 volunteer mentors is passionate about creating meaningful change. Plus, 50% of our top 30 leaders have been with us for over five years! 🎉10+ alumni have started their organizations and 6 current or former team members were Acumen Fund East Africa fellows. 

Global organizations like  Imaginable Futures, Big Bang Philanthropy,  #startsmall, Generation Unlimited, CIFF and Echidna Giving have backed us and support our mission! In 2022, we received a catalytic investment from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott to scale our systems change work.

Educate!'s long-term vision is to design solutions that measurably impact millions of youth across Africa each year. By 2025, we’re on track to quadruple our reach and impact 400,000 youth annually. Want to join us on this journey?

Position Overview

Educate! is seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Procurement and Logistics Coordinator to join our dynamic team. In this crucial role, you will be at the heart of our operations, ensuring the seamless acquisition and delivery of resources that power our programs. As we scale our products in Uganda, your expertise will be vital in maintaining efficiency and supporting our ambitious goals.

This is your chance to be part of a dedicated team making a tangible impact on thousands of youth. If you’re passionate about procurement and logistics, thrive in fast-paced environments, and are excited about contributing to a cause that’s changing lives, we’d love to have you on board. Join us in driving forward Educate!'s innovative education solutions and help us reach new heights!

Performance Objectives 

1. Procurement and Price Research & Verification – 35%
2. Contracts and Supplier Management (25%)
3. Quality Control (20%)
4. Contractor Management (20%)

1. Procurement and Price Research & Verification – 35%

• Implement the procurement policy and strategy and promote purchasing best practices to maximize savings.
• Ensure procurement processes are complete, accurate, documented and in compliance with relevant laws & E! Policy.
• Anticipate procurement needs to pre-select competitive vendors, and create systems to track and strategically guard against common procurement challenges
• Ensure proper documentation for all procurement requests before presentation for authorization.
• Ensure that standard operating procedures for the procurement function are understood and applied by staff.
• Coordinate the awards to the best bidder and draft a contract for the selected vendor.
• Carry out regular market research and update the price list at least twice a year as a guide for user departments 
• Ensure that price comparisons or other procedures do not delay procurements past communicated deadline 
• Formally and proactively communicates and advises budget holders and Operations Manager on instances of cost reduction.

2. Contracts and Supplier Management (25%)

• Spearhead the prequalification process for vendors and service providers in anticipation of implied procurement needs.
• Build and keep a well maintained pipeline of preferred vendors to lower procurement related risks.
• Maintain well documented vendor lists with company products and shares with management as is necessary.
• Build and maintain a strong E! relationship with vendors for the benefit of wholesale discounts & customer loyalty awards within the boundaries of the Educate! Ethics Guide.
• Provide timely, accurate and adequate specifications to vendors and respond to clarifications in a timely manner.
• Ensure vendor contracts have complete specifications and right invoices are paid promptly.
• Participate in negotiation of contract terms on a range of central contracts and monitor performance against these contracts.

3. Quality Control (20%)

• Ensure the quality of materials or services is consistent with requirements through quality monitoring from initiation to usage.
• Conclude procurements within the time of the stipulated timelines
• Ensure there are operational controls for the facility services such as telephone, internet, reception, security, etc.
• Ensure maintenance and optimization of Head Office IT infrastructure and systems
• Ensure proper safety of the procurement documents
• Suggest improvements based on regular staff feedback and respond to challenges within stipulated timelines.
• Seek and respond to feedback from end users on the quality of products delivered to ensure value for money.

4. Contractor Management (20%)

• Lead the recruitment process for Enumerators (from advertising to shortlisting of candidates, conducting interviews, awarding and contracting)
• Maintain a clean, up-to-date database of Enumerators for different programs
• Process payments for Enumerators in a timely manner
• Collect and provide feedback to Enumerators and generally ensure that their experience with E! is pleasant

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of proven Experience in procurement, logistics, or supply chain management in a fast paced environment, preferably within the NGO sector.
• Strong Analytical Skills to assess procurement processes and ensure cost-efficiency and effectiveness.
• Excellent Organizational Abilities to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and resource allocation.
• Effective Communication Skills to liaise with vendors, stakeholders, and team members, ensuring clear and concise information exchange.
• Problem-solving mindset to address logistical challenges and implement efficient solutions.
• Attention to Detail to meticulously handle procurement documentation.
• Proficiency in Procurement Software and Microsoft Office Suite to streamline procurement activities and reporting.
• Commitment to Ethical Practices ensuring compliance with organizational policies and industry standards.
• Adaptability to adjust to changing priorities and work environments, supporting the dynamic needs of the organization.
• Team Player with the ability to work collaboratively within diverse and multicultural teams.
• Driven by Impact with a passion for contributing to the organization's mission of transforming education and scaling impact.

Terms 

• Salary is commensurate with experience
• Attractive Benefits & Packages including Medical Insurance.
• Location is Kampala

What We Offer 💼

• A vibrant, mission-driven environment with a supportive and fun team.
• Flexibility— Hybrid work environment with at least 3 days in our awesome Nairobi office (If working from the Nairobi office)!
• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Healthcare coverage for you and your dependents, work laptop, Internet & call stipend
• Learning & growth opportunities
• This is a Fixed term  contract with a possibility of extension based on performance

Application Process: Rolling basis, interviews happening soon!

Our Culture & Tenets(Values) 🌱

We’re ambitious. Are you? Educate! is growing fast, so new opportunities are opening up and expanding all the time. We’re inspired by people with drive, and we love to help them reach their full potential. We expect everyone at Educate! to contribute above and beyond their job description, grow their skills, and advance their careers, and we are committed to supporting our staff members on that journey of their careers, and we are committed to supporting our staff members on that journey. 

1. We put Youth First, Impact-Obsessed - We are purpose-driven, focused on impact, and prioritize what truly matters. We listen to youth, design our efforts around their needs, and ensure every dollar creates transformative experiences they value.
2. We Exceed Expectations - We take pride in going above and beyond to achieve the best results—proactively identifying problems and seeking solutions without waiting or stopping at what's requested.
3. We Are Always Learning - We are committed to seeking and applying new knowledge and ideas. We stay open-minded and continuously try new things, experiment, grow, and improve. We invest in learning for ourselves and our teams.
4. We are One Team, Many Views - We value all individuals, believe diverse ideas and open dialogue drive excellence, foster a supportive and respectful environment where everyone can freely express themselves. We work as one team and prioritize the organization's mission over personal or team interests.
5. We have the Startup Mindset - We innovate relentlessly to grow our impact, we never think “we have arrived” or “we’re done.”We constantly challenge the status quo, embrace change, and move quickly toward our vision. Unafraid of failure, we question anything that hinders progress.

Every person at Educate! — from interns to the executive director — is evaluated by how they live up to these five cultural tenets. They are at the core of how we achieve our mission and why we work as well as we do.  Educate is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who interact in our community. In creating this environment, we encourage people from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences to join our diverse team. 

We’re committed to ensuring all candidates are screened for child and youth safety. As part of the process, you’ll need to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct. Educate! reserves the right to withdraw employment offers if any risks to youth are identified.