Position Title: Senior Buyer, Purchasing
Entity: Aga Khan University
Division: Purchasing and Supply Chain Management
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.
We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Senior Buyer to join our Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Division. As a Senior Buyer, you will play a pivotal role in sourcing, vendor evaluation, inventory management, and ensuring efficient procurement processes to support the institution's operations. You will also manage contracts, analyze dead stock, review expiries, and provide cost-effective solutions while upholding the highest ethical standards.
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:
You will be responsible for:
- Adhere to institutional policies, including functional responsibilities, code of ethics, anti-fraud, HR policies, and compliance with standards
- Monitor purchase requisitions and create purchase orders within stipulated timelines, ensuring timely delivery of goods
- Source and obtain quotations from suppliers, analyse and evaluate them to make informed purchasing decisions based on price, quality, delivery, and service
- Conduct market surveys and intelligence studies to recommend effective purchasing strategies, including engaging suppliers and leveraging industry insights
- Negotiate effectively with suppliers to obtain competitive pricing and strengthen business relationships
- Collaborate with internal end-users to resolve queries, enhance satisfaction, and address operational concerns
- Improve turnaround time for procurement activities and develop sourcing partnerships to enable reliable supply chain performance at optimal costs
- Review freight costs, optimize inventory levels, and manage stock reordering processes to enhance inventory turnover
- Ensure timely utilization of capital budgets and fulfilment of requirements under the AKDN P Group Purchase Program
- Review and manage dead stock, expiry, and inventory rationalization to minimize waste and improve efficiency
- besides the above, the staff may be assigned additional/ new responsibilities or rotated to other departments based on short-term or long-term requirements.
Requirements:
- master’s degree preferably in Supply Chain OR 16 Years of Education
- degree / Diploma/ Certification in relevant field will be an added advantage
- 1-2 years of experience in procurement and supply chain fields
- experience of healthcare/ hospital procurement will be an added advantage
- comprehensive knowledge of procurement processes
- knowledge of contracts, bidding/ tendering process, industry standards and protocols.
- hands on knowledge of working on ERP systems
- expert level knowledge of computer software specifically command over MS Excel
- excellent interpersonal and analytical skills
- excellent communication skills (Oral & Written)
- able to analyse things critically
- negotiation and presentation skills
- ability to do effective liaison with management, customer and staff.
Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted.
