Job Description: Supply Chain Manager

Department: Supply Chain

Reports to: Head of Operations

Direct Reports: Procurement Officer(s)

Budget / Gross Salary: Kes 250,000 – 300,000

Role Purpose

The Supply Chain Manager (SCM) owns the end-to-end supply chain from supplier to customer: demand and production planning, master data and MRP stewardship, strategic procurement of all raw materials, packaging, ingredients, spare parts, and services, supplier management, import logistics, and the commercial contracting and order-management framework for wholesale and institutional customers. The role is both strategic and operational, combining supply chain planning, cost control, and cross-functional coordination while maintaining strict segregation of duties across the procure-to-pay and order-to-cash cycles.

Boundary with Operations

The SCM plans what to make and when; Operations owns how it is made. The SCM develops the demand plan and proposes the master production schedule from customer orders and forecasts. Operations approves feasibility and owns production execution: capacity, labour, equipment, quality, and efficiency.

The interface is governed through a weekly Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) meeting, where the SCM presents demand and Operations confirms capacity. Final authority on production scheduling rests with Operations. The Demand/Production Planner reports to the Head of Operations on a line (administrative) basis but is functionally accountable to the SCM: the SCM directs the planning work — demand planning, S&OP inputs, and schedule proposals — and sets its priorities and standards, while the Head of Operations retains day-to-day supervision, performance management, and development of the role.

Key Responsibilities

A. Demand & Production Planning

• Build the rolling demand plan from sales forecasts, confirmed orders, and seasonal patterns.

• Propose the master production schedule for approval, balancing service levels against capacity.

• Run the weekly S&OP cycle, translating demand into material requirements and informing capacity decisions.

• Maintain finished-goods and work-in-progress stock targets aligned to shelf life and customer service levels.

B. MRP & Master Data Stewardship

• Own master data integrity across Bills of Materials (BOMs), item codes, supplier records, and price lists.

• Maintain accurate MRP parameters (lead times, reorder points, safety stock, batch sizes) and eliminate formula and data errors.

• Drive clean, trusted data as the foundation for planning, costing, and ERP rollouts.

C. Strategic Procurement

• Develop and execute a procurement strategy aligned with production plans, sales forecasts, and annual budgets.

• Build and maintain an approved supplier list with structured evaluation, onboarding, and performance review criteria.

• Lead category management across processing inputs, packaging, ingredients, chemicals, and MRO supplies.

• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, service-level agreements, and volume-based rebates with key suppliers.

• Own the procurement budget and deliver measurable savings against annual targets, tracking purchase price variance and landed cost.

D. Supplier Management

• Manage supplier relationships for consistent quality, on-time delivery, and responsiveness to urgent requirements.

• Coordinate supplier audits with Quality and Technical teams to verify FSSC 22000 and KEBS compliance.

• Identify, qualify, and develop local and regional supplier alternatives to reduce lead times and import dependency.

• Maintain contingency sourcing arrangements for critical materials to support business continuity.

E. Logistics (Inbound & Outbound)

• Manage inbound (import) logistics end to end: supplier coordination, freight forwarding, customs clearance, and landed-cost optimisation.

• Own the journey from port to factory for imported inputs, ensuring dedicated oversight of the inbound leg.

• Plan import timing and buffers against lead-time and forex risk.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Performance Area

Indicator

Cost

Purchase price variance and delivered COGS against budget

Supply Continuity

Material-shortage line stoppages; stock-out incidents

Supplier Performance

On-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery rate; quality rejection rate

Planning Accuracy

Forecast accuracy; schedule adherence vs. master production plan

Inventory

Raw material and packaging days of cover; obsolete stock value

Order Fulfilment

Customer order fill rate; order-to-confirmation lead time

Data Integrity

BOM and master data accuracy; MRP error rate

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Certifications: Current KISM registration (MKISM) required; professional qualification at CIPS Level 6 / MCIPS (or actively working towards it) strongly preferred.

• Experience: Minimum 8 years of progressive supply chain experience, with at least 4 years in a senior or leadership role.

• Industry Background: Demonstrated experience in food manufacturing, FMCG, or dairy processing environments.

• Technical Skills: Proven track record in demand planning, cost savings, supplier performance, supply risk management, and ERP systems (Oracle, SAP, eProd, or similar).

• Compliance Knowledge: Sound understanding of FSSC 22000, KEBS standards, and food safety regulatory requirements in Kenya.

Key Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.

• Analytical, data-driven approach to planning and decision-making.

• Excellent planning, organisation, and prioritisation skills.

• Effective communicator across all levels, from shop floor to boardroom.

• Integrity, transparency, and sound ethical judgement in all dealings.

• Resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced, multi-product manufacturing environment.