1. Job Profile
Relief International operates in Sudan, a highly complex humanitarian environment with limited infrastructure, volatile security, and rapidly changing donor requirements. Procurement is a critical function to ensure timely, compliant, and cost-effective delivery of humanitarian goods and services. This role is designed to bring specialized expertise in framework agreements, supplier management, and compliance oversight, while strengthening the capacity of national staff and ensuring long-term sustainability of procurement systems.
The Procurement Expert ensures strategic, efficient, and compliant procurement of goods and services, establishing framework agreements to reduce lead times and improve supplier performance. The role will strengthen organizational accountability by embedding donor compliance standards and procurement controls, while also building national staff capacity through structured training, mentoring, and coaching
2. Key Responsibilities
Accountability and Complexity
- Leads high-value procurement and framework agreements for multi-million USD donor portfolios.
- Holds decision-making authority on supplier selection, compliance, and contract negotiations.
- Ensures donor compliance and organizational risk control in all procurement.
- Builds national staff capacity through mentoring, training, and systems transfer.
- Accountable for timely, accurate procurement data and reports to management and donors.
Complexity
- Operates in a high-risk, volatile environment with limited infrastructure and changing markets.
- Manages multiple donor requirements and stakeholders with competing priorities.
- Solves non-standard procurement challenges requiring judgment, autonomy, and adaptability.
Balances speed, compliance, and value-for-money under pressure.
Strategic Sourcing & Framework Agreements
- Lead market analysis and supplier prequalification to expand the supplier database.
- Establish framework agreements for high-spend categories (5โ10 categories minimum).
- Lead end-to-end high-value procurement processes, ensuring transparency and value for money.
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Compliance, Accountability & Risk Management
- Ensure procurement processes comply with RI policy, donor regulations, and ethical standards.
- Conduct supplier due diligence, including sanctions and Enhanced Due Diligence checks.
- Monitor framework agreements with KPIs and corrective actions.
- Provide regular compliance reports to management and donors.
Capacity Building of National Staff
- Develop and deliver structured procurement training modules (framework agreements, compliance, donor standards).
- Mentor national staff in managing procurement cycles, negotiations, and reporting.
- Build sustainable systems by documenting procedures, checklists, and tools for handover to national teams.
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Stakeholder Collaboration & Representation
- Partner with Program, Finance, and Field teams to forecast procurement needs.
- Coordinate with other INGOs and UN agencies on joint market assessments.
- Represent RI in inter-agency logistics and procurement forums.
Data Management & Reporting
- Roll out a consolidated procurement tracker with weekly updates.
- Analyze procurement data for efficiency, supplier performance, and cost savings.
- Submit monthly procurement performance reports to the Senior Supply Chain Manager and Country Director.
Management and Leadership
- Provides technical leadership on procurement, setting standards and ensuring best practice across Sudan operations.
- Building their capacity to manage procurement processes independently.
- Influences cross-departmental teams (Programs, Finance, Logistics) to align procurement with organizational and donor requirements.
- Represents RI in external procurement forums, providing leadership in inter-agency coordination and supplier engagement.
Behavior and Conduct
- Will ensure the highest standards of behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RIโs code of conduct and safeguarding policies
- Will be a model for ethical conduct standards for other team members
- Will ensure own actions and the actions of the teams members they manage do not impact the safety of the RI team and the vulnerable communities we serve
- Will ensure external stakeholders are aware of RI conduct and reporting mechanisms
- Report any concerns
3. Person Specification
Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the role.
Essential criteria
- Bachelorโs degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or related field.
- At least 5 years of humanitarian procurement experience in complex contexts.
- Strong knowledge of donor regulations (ECHO, BHA, UN agencies).
- Experience in framework agreements and procurement tracking/reporting systems.
- Advanced Excel and procurement software skills.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and training skills.
Desirable:
- Professional certification (CIPS, CSCP).
- Experience in Sudan or similar high-risk context.
- Knowledge of Arabic.
Skills:
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
- Proven ability to build and mentor diverse teams.
- High accountability, attention to detail, and ability to work under pressure.
Knowledge & Expertise:
- Understanding of procurement compliance frameworks.
- Familiarity with humanitarian operating environments.
- Ability to transfer technical knowledge effectively to national staff.
RI Values
Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as โDo No Harm,โ Relief International Values:
- Integrity
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Inclusivity
- Sustainability