SENIOR SUPPLY CHAIN SPECIALIST

Our client is a key player operating in the mining, mining services, and heavy equipment sectors in West Africa. To support its operations and mining projects, the company is seeking a Senior Supply Chain Specialist to coordinate and execute procurement, logistics, and supply activities.

Role Summary:

Reporting to the Supply Chain Manager or Director, the Senior Supply Chain Specialist ensures the operational coordination and execution of end-to-end procurement, buying, expediting, and logistics activities for all mine sites and heavy equipment operations. The role combines operational execution with first-line supervision to ensure that parts, consumables, and services are delivered on time, at the best cost, and in compliance with quality and governance standards.

Key Accountabilities:

A. Procurement, Buying & Strategic Sourcing

• Manage assigned requirements from approved Purchase Requisition through sourcing, commercial evaluation, Purchase Order, expediting, delivery and close-out.

• Source goods and services from qualified local, regional and international suppliers; conduct RFQs/RFPs, bid analyses and commercial recommendations.

• Negotiate price, lead time, payment terms, warranties and other commercial conditions while considering total cost, quality and operational risk.

• Support procurement of heavy mobile equipment spares, drill & blast items, tyres, filters, lubricants, GET, workshop tools, PPE, electrical/hydraulic components and contracted services.

• Verify stock, outstanding orders and inter-site availability before committing new purchases; develop alternative sources for critical and long-lead items.

B. Logistics, Expediting & Cross-Border Delivery

• Maintain visibility of critical materials from PO issuance to final site receipt.

• Coordinate road, air and sea freight, shipment consolidation, customs brokers, freight forwarders and remote-site deliveries.

• Manage and monitor shipping/customs documentation, border-crossing and clearance processes applicable within West Africa.

• Expedite critical and equipment-down orders; proactively escalate delays and develop contingency delivery solutions.

• Investigate shortages, damage, incorrect supply and delivery discrepancies and drive timely resolution.

C. Mining Operations & Maintenance Support

• Work closely with Operations, Maintenance and Maintenance Planning to anticipate material requirements, planned shutdowns, component changes and critical spares.

• Prioritize genuine operational-critical requirements and reduce dependence on emergency procurement through stronger planning.

D. Inventory & Supplier Performance

• Coordinate with warehouse teams on Min/Max levels, reorder points, critical stock, slow-moving/obsolete inventory and inter-site transfers.

• Maintain and develop an approved, competitive supplier base and conduct appropriate supplier due diligence.

• Monitor supplier performance against quality, cost, delivery, responsiveness, HSE, warranty and compliance requirements.

• Recommend corrective actions, alternative sourcing or supplier review/suspension for repeated poor performance.

E. Cost Control & Governance

• Identify and document procurement savings, cost avoidance, price variances, freight optimization and framework-agreement opportunities.

• Ensure full compliance with Procurement Policies, Delegation of Authority, segregation of duties and audit documentation requirements.

• Protect confidentiality of quotations, tenders, pricing and commercial information; declare conflicts of interest and reject improper benefits.

• Ensure operational urgency is managed through approved emergency procurement processes and is never used to bypass controls.

Supervisory & Team Leadership Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate assigned Procurement/Buying Officers, Logistics Officers/Coordinators, Expeditors, Store/Warehouse personnel and other Supply Chain support staff.

• Allocate workloads, set priorities and monitor completion of purchasing, expediting and logistics activities across office and operational sites.

• Provide day-to-day direction, coaching, technical guidance and problem-solving support to team members.

• Review critical PRs, RFQs, bid comparisons, POs and shipment follow-ups prepared by the team, within delegated authority.

• Ensure segregation of duties, procedural compliance, accurate records and disciplined escalation of exceptions.

• Coordinate team priorities with Operations, Maintenance, Warehousing, Finance, HSE and site management.

• Monitor team and individual KPIs, conduct routine performance follow-up meetings and close outstanding actions.

• Identify competency gaps and recommend training, coaching and development actions.

• Provide input into recruitment, probation, performance evaluation and disciplinary processes for assigned personnel.

• Plan adequate Supply Chain coverage during leave, roster breaks and periods of increased operational activity.

West African Operating Context

• Operate effectively across remote mine locations, constrained infrastructure, long international lead times and limited local availability of specialized mining components.

• Manage regional and cross-border sourcing, customs/import requirements, multiple currencies, variable supplier capability and challenging road/transport conditions.

• Combine local-market knowledge with regional and international supplier/OEM networks in French- and English-speaking business environments.

• Support local-content objectives where applicable without compromising quality, safety, competitiveness or governance.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Logistics, Business Administration, Commerce, Engineering or related discipline.

• Minimum 5 years' relevant experience in procurement, buying, logistics or integrated supply-chain operations, with demonstrated supervisory or team-lead exposure.

• Strong preference for mining, mining contracting, construction, heavy equipment, oil & gas or another asset-intensive industry.

• Experience with heavy mobile equipment/OEM spares, international sourcing, supplier negotiations and cross-border logistics is highly desirable.

• Professional certification or progress toward CIPS, APICS/ASCM or equivalent is advantageous.