In-Kind Supply Chain Manager

Fika

Fika exists to innovate cost-effective rural infrastructural solutions through advocacy, evidence and technical assistance to promote safe access for geographically isolated communities through partnership with governments and donors.

We provide flexible work arrangements, comprehensive mental and physical wellness support, and annual salary reviews aligned with our compensation policy. Additionally, we offer opportunities for professional growth, allowing individuals to shape their own career paths through targeted development programs.

Job purpose

The In-Kind Supply Chain Manager is responsible for securing in-kind material donations in support of Fika’s operations. They work closely with the Fika teams in each of the program countries to understand need, schedule and to manage the logistics of delivery and customs processing; they cultivate and steward current in-kind partnerships, while continuously working on increasing our in-kind material pipeline to match the needs of our growing operations. They work closely with the Engineering department, Procurement department and with in-kind partners to define acceptable standards for the donated materials and often travel to donors facilities to enforce required standards.

Duties and responsibilities

Leadership

• Create and drive new strategic objectives for in-kind material donations
• Produce the annual expense and donations budget for in-kind and re-forecast as requested
• Partner with Marketing & Communications to ensure all in-kind donations collaterals are current and representative of Fika offerings
• Work with department and initiative leads across Fika to align organizational needs with opportunities

Partnerships fostering

• Achieve annual in-kind goals by fostering current donors and by building new partnerships
• Ensure a timely and smooth hand-off to the Procurement team to arrange material transport and delivery
• Manage relationships with international shipping partners to ensure lower prices and higher efficiency in the shipping of in-kind materials to our program countries
• Work with Director of Private Sector Partnerships to use current PSP network to seek new in-kind donation opportunities, and-or to grow current ones

Ensure high quality standards

• Work with Director of Engineering

to define the level of standards needed for donated repurposed cables, and what systems we need in place either in our country programs or at our donors’ facilities and ports, to consistently reach and respect such standards

• Evaluate the need of hiring staff at the donors’ facilities and ports to carry out inspections on donated cables before they are sent through
• Travel to potential and current in-kind donors’ facilities to deeply understand the work behind each partnership, and to continuously ensure the highest standards for donated materials

Logistics Coordination

• Lead the coordination of donations of multiple streaems of material (construction tools, safety tools, contructions material, re-purposed cables, topography material, software, etc..)
• Work with the Director of Private Sector Partnerships and the Operations team to set annual goals for in-kind donations
• Develop a deep understanding of the in-kind market and in-kind client interests
• Lead outreach to potential new in-kind partners with a goal of steadily increasing the Fika in-kind material pipeline in line with the growth and expansion of Fika’s operations
• Work with the Fika procurement department to explore options for setting up a centralized Fika in-kind material warehouse on the East African Coast, to store temporarily internationally donated and purchased materials, before distributing it through our program countries on the African continent

Events and Conferences

• Liaise with Director of Private Sector Partnerships to identify key events where to connect with strategic potential new donors
• Represent Fika at these events alone or together with Director of Private Sector Partnerships

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree – Business Administration or Engineering Management preferred
• Master’s degree recommended
• 3-5 years of project or program management experience
• Demonstrated track record and experience in sales
• Ability to work across different cultures and languages
• Ability to represent yourself and the organization confidently and professionally to external partners
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills
• Strong verbal and written communications skills
• Proven ability to work independently and in remote settings
• Self-motivated, with strong initiative
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite and email
• Language requirements: English – French, Spanish or Swahili as preferences

Working conditions

This is a remote position, but the candidate will ideally be in a region where in-kind donors are centered, such as the US, the UK, or Europe. The role may require travel to Fika program countries and corporate events around the US, UK, and Europe. This role requires periodic work on evenings and weekends.

Physical requirements

This position requires occasional international travel (i.e. long-haul flights).

Direct reports

• In-Kind Specialist