Procurement Associate - Sourcing

Your role:
Reports to: Senior Operations Manager

• The Procurement Associate - Sourcing will have a key role in supporting procurement operations, with a focus on sourcing fresh produce while ensuring quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. The Procurement Associate - Sourcing will work closely with farmers, markets, and our logistics team to maintain a consistent supply of fresh produce for our customers.The ideal candidate has an in-depth knowledge of seasonal availability and varieties of produce, is able to build and maintain relationships with suppliers and has a strong commitment to quality.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct daily purchases of fresh vegetables and fruits from market vendors, as well as any other requested products
• Identify direct suppliers who can supply quality fresh groceries and other products to our warehouses
• Negotiate favorable prices, seek discounts, bulk pricing, and other favorable terms to optimize procurement costs
• Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with farmers, markets, and perishables vendors
• Stay informed about the seasonality of products and plan sourcing to align with these changes, while optimizing for freshness and availability
• Collaborate with logistics teams to coordinate the timely transportation of purchased products from vendors to the warehouse
• Work closely with the warehouse team to ensure the availability of the sourced products for prompt dispatches and engage with warehouse inventory teams to maintain optimal stock levels, averting expiries for the perishables
• Reconcile all expenditures incurred while sourcing for products and maintain accurate documentation related to sourcing activities, including invoices, receipts, and quality records
• Adhere to and maintain quality control measures for all the sourced groceries and adopt cost-saving opportunities without compromising on quality
• Identify any other supply opportunities for diversification and potential new sources for fresh groceries and other in-demand products
• Forecast demand and plan sourcing activities accordingly to prevent overstocking or shortages
• Continuously evaluate and improve sourcing processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness

The profile we're likely to hire:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Agriculture, or a closely related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in procurement and purchasing, preferably sourcing fresh produce or food products.
• Proven ability to accurately assess the quality of fresh produce, with knowledge of quality control and safety standards.
• In-depth knowledge of seasonal availability and varieties of produce, with the ability to plan and strategize according to seasonal fluctuations.
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with farmers, vendors and other stakeholders
• A proactive and agile mindset, with a preference for fieldwork and stakeholder interactions - This role requires a hands-on approach and direct involvement in the sourcing process.