Procurement Assistant at Apollo Agriculture

Nairobi | Finance | Full-Time | Hybrid

About Apollo Agriculture:

Apollo Agriculture is the leading commercial farming platform dedicated to empowering small-scale farmers to maximize their profits. Leveraging cutting-edge ML-powered credit models and automated operations technology, Apollo Agriculture is unlocking the untapped potential of small-scale farming, starting right here in Kenya. By providing optimized financing, top-quality farm products, and digital guidance, Apollo is already enabling farmers to more than double their farm profitability. Our team is a powerhouse of technology, credit, and operations expertise, boasting talents from renowned companies such as The Climate Corporation (acquired for USD $1 Billion), Google, Capital One, and One Acre Fund. At Apollo Agriculture, we highly value an evangelical pursuit of our mission, a pragmatic approach, humility in the face of challenges, active discussion of disagreements, and considerate listening.

About the Role:

Apollo Agriculture is on the lookout for a meticulous, organized, and enthusiastic procurement professional to join our Procurement team as a Procurement Assistant. In this role, you will collaborate closely with the Head of Procurement, overseeing all facets of procurement processes and engaging with stakeholders to ensure the swift delivery of goods and services. If you’re a procurement professional seeking to advance your career in a dynamic and vibrant organization wholeheartedly dedicated to the critical mission of making commercial farming accessible to all, this is an exciting opportunity for you!

Reporting Lines: This role reports to the Head of Procurement
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contract Duration: Short-Term

Responsibilities:

Ensure Compliance

• Ensure strict compliance with Apollo’s rules, regulations, policies, and procurement strategies.

Collaborate and Plan

• Collaborate with department personnel and managers to strategize and plan procurement activities.

Bid Evaluation

• Review and evaluate bids and proposals, meticulously preparing analyses for contract awards and committee review.

Technical Specifications

• Verify the completeness and accuracy of technical specifications in purchase requests (PRF).

Tender Documents

• Prepare specifications, Terms of Reference, and Statement of Works for RFPs and RFQs, ensuring departmental approval.

Tender Issuance

• Issue RFQs, RFPs, and other tender documents, meticulously aligning with Apollo-approved templates.

Procurement Oversight

• Monitor the procurement cycle, maintain a vigilant eye on vendor interactions, and effectively resolve post-order issues.

Procurement Tracking

• Maintain a comprehensive procurement monitoring tracker, provide valuable purchase order feedback to departments, and ensure document availability for audits.

Market Research

• Conduct market research to ensure competitive and quality services.

Supplier Management

• Manage the supplier database, oversee inventory, and coordinate the distribution of branded materials, including support for international expansion.

Requirements:

• Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Procurement
• 1 to 2 years of procurement experience
• Proficiency in common analytical tools, e.g., Excel
• Strong negotiation skills
• Knowledge of vendor relationship management
• Exemplary integrity
• Familiarity with procurement tools and protocols

We:

• Are a collaborative team of smart and ambitious individuals dedicated to serving our customers.
• Turn challenges into opportunities by delivering innovative solutions.
• Embrace calculated risks for the sake of radical growth, recognizing that failures are stepping stones to improvement.
• Listen attentively, striving to deeply understand and seek out ideas from our team members, even when we disagree.
• Foster a dynamic environment that promotes talent, collaboration, and personal growth.
• Take pride in our work and see projects through from inception to deployment.
• Back our words with a competitive compensation and benefits package, coupled with challenging projects.
• Value autonomy, honesty, transparency, and respect.

We are excited to hear from you!

Apollo Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

To ensure a safe and productive work environment, we may conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. These checks may include, but are not limited to, criminal history, national sex offender search, and motor vehicle history.

Apollo Agriculture does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.

Expert Tips to Be a Successful Applicant

Are you eager to excel in your application for the Procurement Assistant role at Apollo Agriculture? Here are some expert tips to help you stand out:

1. Tailor Your Application: Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant procurement experience, skills, and qualifications. Show how they align with Apollo’s mission.
2. Highlight Analytical Skills: Showcase your proficiency with analytical tools, especially Excel, to demonstrate your ability to handle procurement data effectively.
3. Demonstrate Integrity: Provide examples of how you’ve upheld the highest ethical standards in your previous procurement roles.
4. Emphasize Vendor Management: Describe your experience in managing vendor relationships and how it contributed to successful procurement outcomes.
5. Show Passion: Express your passion for Apollo Agriculture’s mission to make commercial farming accessible to all. Explain why you want to be a part of their team.
6. Prepare for Interviews: Anticipate questions about your procurement knowledge and experiences. Practice your responses to demonstrate your suitability for the role.

By following these expert tips, you can enhance your application and increase your chances of success in joining Apollo Agriculture’s dedicated team of professionals. Good luck!