Jobs for Bachelor of Purchasing and Supply Management Graduates

Procurement is a licensed profession in Kenya

A Bachelor of Purchasing and Supply Management (offered at some universities as a BCom or BSc in Procurement and Supply Chain Management) prepares you to buy goods and services, manage suppliers and run stores and logistics. What many students do not realise until they start job hunting is that procurement practice in Kenya is regulated. The Supplies Practitioners Management Act, 2007 set up the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM), and public bodies in particular expect procurement staff to be registered and licensed.

Jobs graduates apply for

• Procurement assistant or procurement officer in county governments, state corporations and private companies
• Stores clerk, inventory controller or warehouse supervisor
• Logistics, fleet and supply chain coordinator roles in NGOs, manufacturers and distributors
• Buyer and category roles in supermarkets and FMCG firms

Entry requirements

Government-sponsored entry is through KUCCPS, usually with a KCSE mean grade of C+ and a pass in Mathematics. Holders of a diploma in supply chain management can often join with credit transfer.

Professional qualifications

Most employers now look for the Certified Procurement and Supply Professional of Kenya (CPSP-K) qualification, examined by KASNEB, and for KISM membership. Public sector work also requires a working knowledge of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015 and its regulations, because tender processes are audited. Integrity questions come up in almost every interview, so be ready to explain how you would handle a conflict of interest or a supplier offering a gift.

Career path

A typical route runs from assistant to procurement officer within two to four years, then senior officer, supply chain manager and head of procurement. Public sector posts are advertised by the Public Service Commission and county boards; see the guide to government job applications for how those processes work. In the private sector, experience with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle and with import documentation noticeably widens your options.