Senior Buyer, Purchasing

Entity: Aga Khan University

Location: Karachi

Introduction to the Aga Khan University:

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous and self-governing international university with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries distributed across three continents. As an integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in several disciplines, carries out research pertinent to the countries in which it exists and has campuses, programmes and/or teaching hospitals in Afghanistan, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda and the UK. As an international institution, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact and access; and AKU is a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

Job Role / Responsibilities:

Responsible for executing the procurement of goods and services in accordance with organizational policies, quality standards, and budgetary constraints. This role involves managing the end-to-end procurement process, including sourcing, bidding, negotiation, and purchase order issuance, to ensure timely availability of required items at optimal cost and quality.

Specifically you will be responsible for:

• Review and process purchase requisitions in line with procurement policies.
• Source suppliers and obtain competitive quotations for required goods/services.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders ensuring compliance with internal controls.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with key suppliers.
• Evaluate supplier performance based on quality, cost, delivery, and service.
• Resolve supply issues, including late deliveries or quality concerns.
• Negotiate prices, terms, and conditions with suppliers to achieve savings and added value.
• Monitor market trends and price fluctuations to optimize procurement strategy.
• Maintain accurate procurement records, contracts, and correspondence.
• Use ERP systems to manage procurement transactions and reporting.
• Coordinate with requestors/end-users to clarify requirements and delivery expectations.
• Work closely with finance, warehouse, and inventory teams to ensure seamless flow of materials.
• Coordinate with AKDN Group Purchasing Office to obtain reference prices and best deals
• Ensure all procurement activities follow PSCMD’s and AKU’s policies, ethical practices, and legal standards.
• Support audits and documentation requests.
• Participate in initiatives for process / quality improvement and automation in procurement.
• Identify opportunities for vendor consolidation and standardization.

Eligibility Criteria / Requirements:

• Master’s degree OR 16 Years of Education (preferably in Supply Chain Management, Business, or related field)
• Professional certification in supply chain/ inventory / logistics management is a plus.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience (preferably in purchasing or supply chain management)
• Previous experience of using ERP systems or inventory management software
• Understanding of Procurement Processes: Knowledge of end-to-end purchasing lifecycle — from requisition to payment (P2P).
• Category-Specific Knowledge: Familiarity with the goods or services being procured (e.g., medical supplies, IT equipment, consumables).
• Market Awareness: Understanding of supplier markets, trends, and pricing dynamics.
• ERP and Procurement Software: Proficiency in using enterprise systems like Oracle, SAP, PeopleSoft, or similar for order processing and reporting.
• MS Office Proficiency: Particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint for reporting, data analysis, and documentation.
• Data Analysis: Ability to analyse quotations, historical spend data, and supplier metrics to support decision-making.
• Negotiation Skills: Ability to negotiate favorable prices, payment terms, and service agreements.

Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted.