Vacancy Announcement

Kelem International School

Kelem International School (KIS) is a Cognia-accredited, not-for-profit school offering education from Pre-KG to Grade 10. Originally established under the Swedish Embassy in Ethiopia in 1946, the school reopened as an independent institution in July 2019.

At KIS, our vision is to be a collaborative center of learning that nurtures confident, self- realized global citizens. Our mission is to facilitate the full potential of every child by fostering resilience, curiosity, open-mindedness, and critical thinking. We aim to equip students with the skills to analyze, problem-solve, and adapt in an ever-changing world.

KIS promotes a lifelong learning culture, ensuring both students and educators engage in continuous professional and personal development. With diverse student body of 173 students from different nationalities.

If you are committed to educational leadership and transformative learning, we invite you to be part of KIS’s mission to develop responsible, compassionate global citizens while honoring Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage. Enhancing and expanding access to quality education.

Overall Objective:

The Procurement Officer manages the end-to-end acquisition of goods and services while maintaining a strict "Segregation of Duties" between purchasing, financial recording, and physical asset custody. The officer serves as the strategic link between academic/operational needs and the school’s fiscal integrity, ensuring that all student-facing services (such as the school kitchen) are supplied with high-quality, safe, and cost-effective resources.                                                                                                 

Tasks and Responsibilities

Procurement planning and strategy

• Needs Assessment: Support the Finance and Operations Manager in drafting annual and termly Procurement Plans for academic and operational departments.

• Vendor Ecosystem: Identify and vet reliable local suppliers in Addis Ababa, maintaining a Prequalified Vendor List with a specific focus on food safety/hygiene standards for kitchen supplies.

• Import Management: Lead the procurement of international educational materials, managing the import-export lifecycle, including "Single Window" systems and customs clearance.

Purchases and lifecycle management

• RFQ Management: Handle the whole procurement process for local and international orders, managing Requests for Quotations (RFQs) and performing detailed price-quality analysis.

• School Kitchen Logistics: Coordinate "Just-in-Time" delivery models for perishable food items to ensure student meals are fresh while minimizing waste and storage costs.

• Purchase Orders: Issue formal POs based strictly on authorized requisitions, ensuring all technical and nutritional specifications are met before purchase.

Integrity of controls (segregation of duties)

• The "Firewall" Role: Act as the operational bridge between the Store (Receiving) and Finance (Payment). The officer identifies the vendor but has no authority to record ledger entries or sign checks.

• Document Triangulation: Ensure every purchase file is complete with the "Golden Triangle": Requisition + Purchase Order + Goods Receiving Note (GRN).

• Audit Readiness: Support the Finance team during internal and external audits by maintaining organized and transparent procurement archives.

Market monitoring and compliance

• Benchmarking: Conduct quarterly price benchmarking for volatile commodities (e.g., cooking oil, grains, fuel) to shield the school’s budget from local inflation.

• Tax Compliance: Ensure all procurement activities align with the school’s internal control manual and Ethiopian tax regulations (VAT).

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience:

• Education: University degree in Logistics, Procurement, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Experience: A minimum of 4 years’ experience in professional procurement, preferably within an international school, NGO, or hospitality environment .

• Technical Skills: Proven experience with the Ethiopian "Single Window" system for imports and a strong understanding of local market dynamics in Addis Ababa.

Required Knowledge & Skills:

• Deep knowledge of procurement standards, ethics, and "Value for Money" principles.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for price comparisons and budget tracking.

• Excellent negotiation and communication skills in English and Amharic.

Expected Personal Characteristics:

• Honest and Trustworthy: High ethical standards to prevent vendor favoritism or kickbacks.

• Proactive: Ability to anticipate "stock-outs" and manage emergency maintenance needs.

• Resilient: Capable of managing high-pressure delivery timelines (e.g., critical exam materials or daily food supplies).

How To Apply

Interested applicants are asked to apply by submitting their most recent CV and a cover letter (maximum two sides of A4) outlining their suitability for the post.

Please include your salary expectation in the application letter as it is mandatory. The CV must include the names and full contact details of three professional referees, one of whom must be your most recent employer. Candidates not meeting the criteria will not be contacted without prior permission.

Please send the application letter and your CV in a SINGLE PDF file attached by email to hr@scsaddis.com

Important: When applying for this position, kindly be sure to use “Procurement Officer” Job Application 2025-26” as your email subject. Please note that applicants will be contacted for further assessment only if they are shortlisted.

Closing date: After 10 days of the vacancy announced. Candidates are encouraged to submit their materials as early as possible, as KIS reserves the right to close the selection process at ANY TIME once the ideal candidate is identified. Application review begins as soon as applications are received.

Please note that Kelem International School (KIS) is committed to all aspects of safeguarding and safe recruitment practices to ensure that the school provides a safe and secure environment for all.

 

Job Requirements The candidates must hold a University degree in Logistics, Procurement, Business Administration, or a related field. : A minimum of 4 years’ experience in professional procurement, preferably within an international school, NGO, or hospitality environment . How to Apply Submit your non-returnable application and CV along with supporting documents in Via email hr@scsaddis.com