Ferdinand Mkilaha
About me
Highly accomplished procurement leader, supply chain leader, and operations coordinator with expertise in e-commerce, FMCG, and corporate procurement. Demonstrates a strong ability to drive strategic sourcing, cost reduction, and supply chain optimization while ensuring seamless coordination with cross-functional teams in sales, logistics, administration, and finance. Extensive experience managing multi-company procurement, including insurance, construction, logistics, tours & travel, and farming. Proven track record in handling government tenders and securing contracts for supplying building materials to various government institutions.
Skills
Work Experience
Operations Officer
Newland International Trading
2015-12-01
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2016-05-15
• Enhanced Customer Relations and Sales Growth: Delivered exceptional customer care, strengthening client loyalty and driving increased sales of products and services through personalized engagement and effective relationship management. • Streamlined Operational Processes: Revamped and published Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by incorporating stakeholder, customer, and employee feedback, resulting in clearer, more user-friendly guidelines that improved operational efficiency. • Ensured Equipment Readiness: Maintained 100% operational readiness of equipment annually, minimizing downtime and ensuring seamless business operations. • Optimized Procurement and Distribution: Developed and implemented a comprehensive purchasing plan, ensuring timely distribution of products and reducing supply chain bottlenecks. • Facilitated Customs Clearance: Coordinated effectively with customs authorities to ensure smooth clearance of imported goods, reducing delays and improving supply chain efficiency. • Developed Competitive Pricing Strategies: Created market-driven pricing plans for purchased products, ensuring competitiveness and profitability in the market. • Ensured Regulatory Compliance: Managed the registration of all products with relevant authorities, ensuring full compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. • Delivered Accurate Reporting: Prepared detailed weekly and monthly reports, providing actionable insights to support strategic decision-making and operational improvements.
Operations & Strategies Officer
GJB Group of Companies
2016-06-01
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2018-09-14
• Strategic Sourcing & Procurement: Managed the sourcing and procurement of all materials, products, and services required by the GJB Group companies, aligning with company needs and specifications. • Supplier Relationship Management: Cultivated and maintained strong relationships with suppliers, negotiating favorable pricing and service terms by GJB Group policies. • Operations Documentation & Reporting: Prepared and managed all documentation and reports related to GJB Group companies' operations, ensuring accuracy and compliance. • Client Needs Analysis: Communicated with clients to understand their needs and specifications, ensuring alignment with service delivery and product offerings. • Compliance & Safety: Maintained a safe and compliant working environment, adhering to all relevant procedures, rules, and regulations. • Budgeting & Monitoring: Developed and managed budgets for various GJB categories, effectively monitoring expenditures and ensuring cost-effectiveness. • Contract Management: Managed contracts with suppliers, ensuring adherence to agreed terms and conditions. • Logistics Coordination: Coordinated logistics for the receipt and distribution of materials and products, ensuring timely delivery and efficient inventory management. • Financial Reconciliation: Reduced financial inconsistencies by meticulously assessing and verifying billing invoices and expense reports. • Operational Risk Management: Reduced operational risks by analyzing data and forecasting performance trends to proactively identify potential issues. • Special Projects: Managed diverse special projects as assigned, including agricultural operations, transportation logistics, technical/IT support, and compliance documentation, demonstrating adaptability and a broad range of skills.
Assistant Head of Procurement
GJB Group of Companies
2018-09-17
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2022-03-01
• Preparation of all tenders for GJB GROUP of companies, • Tender Management: Prepared and managed all tenders for the GJB Group of Companies, ensuring compliance and maximizing competitive advantage. • Procurement Strategy & Implementation: Supported the development and implementation of comprehensive procurement strategies, encompassing sourcing, storage, distribution, and inventory control. • Site Supervision (Purchase & Supply): Oversaw on-site purchasing and supply operations, both in-house and regionally, achieving a 20% reduction in costs through optimized logistics and streamlined processes. • Supplier Relationship Management: Identified and developed relationships with profitable suppliers, fostering strategic partnerships to optimize procurement outcomes. • Negotiation & Contract Management: Negotiated favorable terms with external vendors, finalizing purchase orders and deliveries, and achieving a 10% reduction in initial costs through strategic contract negotiations. • Contract Review & Analysis: Evaluated and assessed existing contracts to identify opportunities for improvement and ensure alignment with business objectives. • Performance Monitoring & Reporting: Tracked and reported key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify areas for cost reduction and operational enhancement. • Risk Management: Conducted risk assessments for supply contracts and agreements, implementing mitigation strategies to minimize potential disruptions. • Cost Control & Savings: Implemented cost-control measures and promoted a culture of long-term savings within the procurement function. • Value Creation: Contributed to ongoing value creation by developing and maintaining a world-class supply base. • Strategic Planning: Supported the development and execution of short-, mid-, and long-term goals and objectives for the procurement department. • Process Improvement: Contributed to the development and implementation of bestpractice procurement processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Procurement & Purchasing Manager
Kyosk Digital Services Ltd
2022-03-14
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2024-08-31
• Streamlined procurement procedures, leading to a 15% reduction in initial costs through strategic sourcing and negotiation. • Collaborated effectively with Logistics, Sales, Warehousing, Administration, and Finance teams to ensure seamless integration of procurement activities with broader organizational goals. • Oversaw the development and execution of the annual procurement budget, leveraging accurate forecasting and planning to align with market demand and sales performance. • Conducted comprehensive market research and competitor analysis to inform product pricing strategies and identify cost-effective product sources, enhancing the company’s competitive advantage. • Proactively identified and mitigated operational risks across the supply chain, including supply, quality, safety, environmental, security, and regulatory compliance, minimizing potential disruptions. • Negotiated and managed supplier contracts, ensuring compliance with government regulations and internal policies while optimizing contract terms. • Implemented and monitored key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive continuous improvement within the procurement department, enhancing operational efficiency and team performance. • Fostered a customer-centric approach within the procurement team, promoting effective communication and collaboration with all business units. • Recruited, trained, and mentored a high-performing procurement team, empowering them to achieve departmental objectives and individual performance goals. • Maintained comprehensive and organized procurement records, ensuring compliance with company policies and procedures and facilitating efficient audits.
Category Lead (Tanzania)
Kasha Technologies Limited.
2024-09-09
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2025-03-31
• Procurement Oversight: Overseeing all procurement activities, ensuring alignment with company objectives, and managing procurement processes, including international supply corridors. • Procurement Planning: Developing procurement plans aligned with Sales & Operation planning, addressing forecasted demand, identifying supply chain challenges, and setting short-term and long-term goals. • Supplier Identification & Selection: Leading the identification, vetting, and evaluation of suppliers for FMCGS and Pharmaceutical products and services, conducting market research, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. • Contracting: Negotiating and finalizing contracts with suppliers, drafting clear and comprehensive contracts, and ensuring favorable terms to secure stable supply for the growing market. • Supplier Relations: Maintaining positive relationships with suppliers, addressing issues, and collaborating on improving procurement terms, product quality, and service delivery. • Performance Monitoring: Developing and implementing performance metrics to assess supplier reliability, quality, delivery timeliness, and cost-effectiveness, and making informed decisions based on evaluations. • Bid Construction: Contributing to large client quotes/bid submissions with supply components and supporting pre-qualification exercises with Pharma. • Coordinating logistics, inventory control, and purchasing activities to support smooth operational functions.
Education
Bachelor of Procurement and Logistics Management
Bachelor Degree
2012-10-01
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2015-11-20
I attained a Bachelor's Degree in Procurement and Logistics Management from the Institute of Accountancy Arusha.