Category Specialist – Procurement at Family Bank Ltd

Category Specialist – Procurement at Family Bank Ltd | Iko Kazi

Job Purpose:

The Category Specialist – Procurement is responsible for supporting the Bank's strategic sourcing and category management activities through the effective procurement of goods, services, and works. The role is responsible for delivering value through cost optimization, supplier performance management, contract governance, risk mitigation, and adherence to procurement policies, regulatory requirements, and banking industry best practices.
The incumbent will act as a trusted business partner to internal stakeholders, ensuring procurement solutions support operational efficiency, business growth, regulatory compliance, and achievement of the Bank's strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

Support the development and execution of category sourcing strategies aligned to business needs and procurement objectives.
Conduct market intelligence, supplier analysis, and spend assessments to identify sourcing opportunities and cost optimization initiatives.
Lead and coordinate sourcing activities including RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, e-auctions, and tendering processes.
Prepare sourcing recommendations, evaluation reports, and commercial assessments for approval.
Support supplier negotiations to secure optimum commercial, service, and contractual terms.

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

Manage supplier relationships within assigned categories to ensure consistent service delivery and value realization.
Monitor supplier performance against agreed service level agreements (SLAs), key performance indicators (KPIs), and contractual obligations.
Coordinate supplier performance reviews and implement corrective action plans where necessary.
Support supplier development initiatives and continuous improvement programs.

Third-Party Risk & Governance

Conduct supplier due diligence and onboarding activities in line with Bank policies and regulatory requirements.
Support third-party risk assessments covering financial, operational, information security, business continuity, ESG, and reputational risks.
Ensure procurement activities comply with internal policies, delegated authority limits, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Maintain complete procurement records, audit trails, and governance documentation.

Contract Management

Support contract drafting, review, administration, renewal, and closure processes.
Track contract obligations, expiry dates, and performance milestones.
Ensure suppliers meet contractual commitments and agreed service levels.
Collaborate with Legal, Risk, Information Security, and Business Units during contract negotiations and reviews.

Stakeholder Management

Partner with business units to understand procurement requirements and develop appropriate sourcing approaches.
Provide procurement advisory support to stakeholders on policy compliance and sourcing best practices.
Facilitate cross-functional evaluations involving Procurement, Finance, Risk, Legal, Operations, Technology, and business stakeholders.
Promote procurement best practices across the organization.

Operational Procurement Excellence

Process procurement requests and purchase orders in accordance with approved procurement plans and budgets.
Ensure accurate and timely procurement reporting and management information.
Monitor procurement cycle times and identify process improvement opportunities.
Support the implementation and optimization of procurement systems and digital procurement initiatives.

Cost & Value Optimization

Identify, deliver, and track cost savings, cost avoidance, and value enhancement opportunities.
Support annual procurement savings targets and strategic sourcing initiatives.
Contribute towards continuous process improvement and operational efficiency programs across the Bank.

Academic Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Procurement & Supply Chain Management, Commerce, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Law, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field from a recognized institution.

Professional Qualifications Mandatory

Professional qualification in Procurement and Supply Chain Management.
Registered member of the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) in good standing.

Preferred

CIPS Level 4 or above.
MCIPS certification will be an added advantage.
Additional certification in Contract Management, Supplier Relationship Management, Project Management, Risk Management, or ESG will be an added advantage.

Experience Requirements

Minimum of 4 years' relevant experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or supply chain management.
Experience within the banking, financial services, telecommunications, insurance, or other highly regulated sectors will be an added advantage.
Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end sourcing activities including RFQs, RFPs, tenders, negotiations, and contract management.
Proven experience delivering measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, or value creation initiatives.
Experience in supplier relationship management and supplier performance monitoring.
Working knowledge of procurement governance, audit requirements, and third-party risk management processes.
Experience using ERP, e-Procurement, Source-to-Pay (S2P), or Procure-to-Pay (P2P) platforms.

Key Competencies Technical Competencies

Behavioral Competencies

Success Measures (KPIs)

Stand out to recruiters