Procurement Officer - Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

About the role

A reputed fresh vegetables and fruits distributor in Salmiya, Kuwait, is looking for a Procurement Officer to manage the buying of fresh fruits and vegetables from local and international suppliers. The role covers supplier sourcing, price negotiation, purchase planning, quality coordination and timely delivery, aiming to meet customer needs while keeping costs low and reducing wastage.

Key responsibilities

• Sourcing fresh fruits and vegetables from local markets, farms, importers and international suppliers, comparing quotations and negotiating prices, credit terms, payment conditions and delivery schedules
• Preparing purchase orders and obtaining management approval, and ensuring timely procurement to avoid stock shortages
• Evaluating suppliers regularly on price, quality, availability and delivery, identifying alternatives for seasonal and high-demand products, and handling supplier complaints and rejected goods
• Coordinating with the warehouse so that products meet quality standards, are properly graded and fit customer needs, and monitoring shelf life, damage and wastage
• Maintaining purchase orders, quotations and records, verifying invoices against purchase orders and warehouse GRNs, and coordinating with Finance on payments
• Preparing daily and weekly procurement reports, tracking purchase prices and reporting savings, wastage and supplier performance

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Supply Chain Management or a related field
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in procurement or purchasing; experience in Alforda Market fresh fruits and vegetables trading or distribution is highly preferred
• Knowledge of local vegetable markets and international fruit suppliers, and understanding of seasonal availability, grading, quality and market pricing

Required skills

• Good knowledge of MS Excel and ERP systems
• Strong communication and negotiation skills