Job Summary
Chartered in 1983, it is a private, autonomous and self-governing international university with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries distributed across three continents. As an integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, Aga Khan University (AKU) provides higher education in several disciplines, carries out research pertinent to the countries in which it exists and has campuses, programmes and/or teaching hospitals in Afghanistan, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda and the UK. As an international institution, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact, and access; and AKU is a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change.
Reporting to the Director, PSCMD, you will be responsible for developing plans, organising, directing and implementing comprehensive contracts and services procurement function at AKU. This includes, working with key stakeholders in order to understand their requirements, compiling specifications, facilitating vendor selection and negotiating agreements on behalf of AKU as per institutional policies.
Specific responsibilities will include:
- developing short and medium-term plans for the department/division and participating in the strategic planning of the department's goals and alignment to the University's vision
- providing strategic planning support to University/Hospital management for all supply chain activities that help the smooth running of overall operations
- studying the requirements, duties and obligations of the organisation under contracts
- monitoring the implementation and performance of signed contracts
- building and maintaining relationships with vendors, internal stakeholders and other business connections
- following institutional policies related to functional responsibilities, code of ethics, discipline, acceptance of gifts, anti-fraud, and other HR-related policies
- pre-qualification of contractors in line with the departmental policies
- ensuring proper implementation of policies as and when required by various funding agencies
- developing strategies for standardising products and services across the campuses
- managing contract award process in line with our Legal and Finance guidelines
- ensuring compliance as per government regulation and quality management system of PSCMD, local and international quality standards
- maintaining, updating, and improving contractual records
- Training, supervising, and managing the contract team.
Required Skills
- a master’s degree in business administration or equivalent. Additional degree/ certifications in Law/ Contract Management will be considered as an added advantage
- a minimum of 5 - 7 years of relevant experience in the field of Purchasing and Contracts Management
- hands-on relevant experience in Service and Contract Management
- excellent knowledge of end-to-end supply management processes including competitive bidding, contract management, supplier performance management, and life cycle costing processes
- the ability to assess, evaluate, analyse, and interpret contract or agreement terms and conditions and recommend alternative language, solutions and/or assist in resolving any supplier risk compliance, or performance issues, as necessary
- strong research skills and an in-depth understanding of financial analytics and legal agreements
- exceptional negotiation, persuasion and decision-making skills
- excellent written and verbal communication skills
- in-depth knowledge of the company’s core industry, policies, procedures and objectives
- leadership and management skills
- strong interpersonal, presentation, communication, conflict resolution and stakeholder relationship management skills to engage others, build consensus and resolve issues
- the ability to manage a high volume of work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and deadlines
- proficiency in MS Office applications including Excel
- excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively and collaboratively with the senior management