Food for Education (F4E), a pioneering African-led and women-led social enterprise, is seeking to recruit a qualified and passionate Procurement Associate to join its growing team in Ruiru, Kenya. This is a significant opportunity to be part of a mission-driven organization that is reshaping school feeding systems and improving the educational and nutritional outcomes of thousands of children across Kenya.
About Food for Education
Food for Education (F4E) was established with a transformative vision—to ensure that every child in a public primary school in Kenya can access affordable, nutritious meals. We use technology, smart operations, and logistics to deliver high-quality, low-cost meals to school-going children. Since 2012, F4E has delivered more than 40 million meals to children across the country and is on track to reach our ambitious goal of feeding 1,000,000 students daily by the year 2027.
Our scalable, tech-enabled model is built on efficient supply chain systems and sustainable sourcing practices. This allows us to lower operational costs while expanding our impact to more schools and communities. As we grow, we are also investing heavily in the professional development of our team, ensuring that our culture remains vibrant, ethical, and purpose-driven.
Our Core Values
At F4E, values are not just words—they guide every action and decision we make:
- Build with excellence and curiosity: We encourage continuous learning and innovation to enhance our operational effectiveness.
- Be the change you seek: We foster a culture of responsibility and collective improvement.
- We do what we say; and say what we do: We nurture an ownership mindset grounded in transparency and accountability.
- Ask why; and commit: We support open communication and principled commitment, allowing us to work with clear purpose.
About the Role: Procurement Associate
We are looking for a Procurement Associate who will be pivotal in overseeing the end-to-end procurement operations at our Ruiru warehouse. Reporting to the Procurement Manager, the successful candidate will be expected to execute timely and efficient procurement of goods, works, and services while ensuring strong supplier relationships and compliance with procurement policies.
This role requires someone who can maintain high ethical standards, has great organizational skills, and demonstrates an ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
1. Procurement Execution
- Receive and review incoming purchase requisitions to verify specification accuracy and completeness.
- Issue Requests for Quotations (RFQs) to prequalified suppliers and receive competitive bids.
- Conduct sourcing for items not under existing contract agreements.
- Prepare bid analysis reports to summarize supplier responses for review by the Supply Chain Manager.
- Ensure timely and secure delivery and receipt of ordered goods and services.
- Troubleshoot and resolve delivery conflicts or delays in coordination with suppliers.
- Collate and verify documentation required for supplier payment and submit to the Finance team.
2. Supplier Relationship Management
- Perform regular market assessments, price surveys, and oversee supplier prequalification processes.
- Clearly communicate procurement terms and performance expectations to all suppliers.
- Resolve or escalate any contract-related issues promptly, both internally and externally.
- Analyze supplier performance using client feedback and coordinate with suppliers for improvement initiatives.
3. Data Management and Procurement Analysis
- Track and assess procurement performance against departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
- Conduct spend analysis to support the development of strategic sourcing plans and to strengthen supplier relationship management.
- Maintain updated and accurate procurement records for easy access and audit readiness.
4. Control and Audit Compliance
- Maintain robust filing systems (both digital and physical) to ensure all procurement activities are properly documented.
- Implement audit recommendations under the guidance of the Head of Department (HoD).
- Uphold compliance with all internal procurement guidelines, donor requirements, and legal standards.
5. Training and Capacity Building
- Train F4E staff on internal procurement policies, procedures, and systems to build organizational procurement literacy.
- Assess and build the capacity of suppliers to meet F4E’s procurement standards and performance metrics.
- Organize supplier forums or feedback sessions to strengthen collaboration and shared learning.
6. Additional Duties
- Execute any other tasks as may be assigned by the supervisor or a designated official to ensure departmental goals are achieved.
Qualifications and Experience
- A university degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Purchasing, or Supplies Management.
- Minimum of 4 years’ experience in procurement or supply chain management.
- Certification in CIPS or KISM (Level 4) is an added advantage.
- Proficient in computer applications with strong knowledge of Google Suite.
- Experience working with an Enterprise Resource Platform (ERP) is highly desirable.
- Strong interpersonal skills, high integrity, and sound ethical judgment.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Previous experience in an International NGO or FMCG environment will be an added advantage.
What We Offer
At Food for Education, we believe in nurturing talent and growing together. As a member of our team, you will benefit from:
- Career Development: Frequent performance reviews, regular feedback, and structured career progression plans.
- Learning Culture: Opportunities for continuous learning through internal workshops, peer learning sessions, and knowledge-sharing platforms.
- Leadership Opportunities: As a fast-growing organization, we are keen to develop leaders from within and provide the chance to contribute to strategic decision-making.
- Work-Life Balance: We understand the value of wellbeing and promote policies that support personal and professional growth.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Food for Education is committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable laws.
We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. We believe a diverse team is a strong team and are intentional about building one.
Recruitment Process
Our recruitment process is designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and consistency. All shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further evaluation steps, which may include interviews and case assessments. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to respond individually to every applicant. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of your application, please know that your application was considered but may not have met the criteria for this specific position. We still encourage you to apply for other roles in the future.
If you are passionate about making a tangible impact in the lives of school children and have the professional experience to support our mission, we would love to hear from you.
To apply, please submit your application via email to [Insert Application Email Here]
We look forward to receiving your application and possibly welcoming you to the Food for Education family.
