Assistant Manager - Purchasing

Assistant Manager - Purchasing

Entity: Aga Khan University

Division: Purchasing and Supply Chain Management

Location: Karachi

Introduction to the Aga Khan University:

Chartered in 1983, it 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, Aga Khan University (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.

Responsibilities:

The Assistant Manager, ICT Procurement will be responsible for managing and executing end-to-end procurement activities for ICT-related goods and services. The role requires strong technical understanding, market awareness, and procurement expertise to ensure cost-effective, timely, and quality acquisitions aligned with organizational objectives. The candidate with following attributes will be preferred:

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• High level of integrity and accountability.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple procurement cycles simultaneously.
• Strong learning mindset with interest in future and emerging technologies.

The incumbent will be responsible for:

• Manage the full lifecycle of ICT procurement including planning, sourcing, evaluation, negotiation, contracting, and vendor management.
• Lead procurement of enterprise IT infrastructure including servers, storage systems, networking equipment, and security solutions.
• Oversee sourcing of end-user computing devices such as desktops, laptops, printers, peripherals, and accessories.
• Handle procurement of software licenses, subscriptions, and ICT services, including maintenance contracts and SLAs.
• Develop procurement strategies to optimize cost, quality, and delivery timelines.
• Conduct vendor assessments, technical evaluations, and commercial comparisons.
• Ensure compliance with organizational procurement policies and procedures.
• Maintain strong relationships with OEMs, distributors, and service providers.
• Monitor market trends, emerging technologies, and pricing dynamics in the ICT domain.
• Prepare procurement reports, forecasts, and spend analysis for management.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (IT, Finance, Operations) to define requirements and specifications.

Academic Qualification:

• Master’s degree in engineering OR Bachelor’s degree in ICT / Computer Science / Information Technology or a related field. 

Experience Requirements

• 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in ICT / technical procurement.

• Proven track record in handling procurement of enterprise IT equipment and services.

Technical Skills & Competencies

•  Strong knowledge of ICT procurement processes, policies, and best practices.

• Hands-on experience with procurement of:

   

  • Enterprise hardware (Servers, Storage Systems, Network equipment)

  • End-user IT equipment (Desktops, Laptops, Printers, Accessories)

  • Software licensing models (OEM, Volume Licensing, SaaS)

  • ICT services, maintenance contracts, and SLAs

• Understanding of leading OEMs (e.g., HPE, Dell, Cisco, Microsoft, etc.) and their product ecosystems.

• Ability to conduct technical and commercial bid evaluations.

• Familiarity with procurement systems / ERP tools (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent).

• Strong negotiation and vendor management skills.

• Awareness of industry trends, emerging technologies, and digital procurement tools.

• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint) for reporting and analysis.

• Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills.