Ingredient Sourcing Expert

Sanku’s solution is likely to have more impact on the lives of people living in rural sub-Saharan Africa than any current health intervention. With proven technology and a sustainable business model, Sanku is searching for an Ingredient Sourcing Expert to lead the sourcing of vitamins, minerals, and speciality ingredients for our premix factories in Eastern Africa. The candidate will play a critical role in ensuring a reliable, cost-effective, and quality-assured supply chain that directly impacts millions of lives.

This is a high-impact, senior-level role for someone with deep technical knowledge of food-grade ingredients, strong supplier networks in Asia, and a passion for purpose-driven procurement.

Primary Work Responsibilities:

1. Identify, vet, and manage suppliers for food-grade vitamins, minerals, and carriers used in micronutrient premix.
2. Maintain regular site visits, virtual audits, and relationship-building with regional suppliers to ensure alignment with technical and ethical standards.
3. Monitor raw material flow and ensure timely replenishment aligned to blending production schedules, safety stock levels, and container shipping cycles.
4. Review and maintain supplier certifications (e.g., ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, HACCP), allergen declarations, CoAs, MSDS, and traceability documentation.
5. Proactively coordinate third-party testing or factory prequalification where needed in collaboration with the quality team.
6. Optimise total landed cost, factoring in price trends, shipping options (FCL/LCL), import duties (COMESA, AfCFTA), and currency risks.
7. Coordinate with suppliers and the internal logistics team to ensure export documentation (Invoice, Packing List, COO, Free Sale Certificate, etc.) is complete and compliant with countries (Eastern Africa) import regulations.
8. Monitor shipping readiness and maintain visibility over goods-in-transit to avoid customs delays or factory disruptions.
9. Track and report regional raw material pricing, freight fluctuations, supplier capacity, and political or trade barriers that could affect the continuity of supply.

Qualifications:

1. Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in international procurement of food-grade ingredients, with a specific focus on vitamins, minerals, and carriers used in premix manufacturing.
2. Experience with supplier quality audits, third-party lab verification, and compliance with international food safety standards (FSSC 22000, ISO, HACCP).
3. Demonstrated expertise in navigating Asian supply markets, with a strong supplier network in India and China for food-grade ingredients essential to fortification.
4. Deep understanding of food safety documentation, international quality standards (e.g., FSSC 22000, ISO, HACCP), and traceability protocols critical for premix manufacturing.
5. Strong proficiency in procurement cost modelling, commodity risk analysis, and TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) frameworks for optimising landed costs.
6. Hands-on experience working with African import markets (Tanzania and Ethiopia for now) is highly desirable, including familiarity with their customs regulations, food control authorities, and port documentation protocols.
7. Familiar with international ocean freight logistics, documentation (e.g., COO, MSDS, Free Sale Certificates), and supplier-side coordination to ensure timely and compliant shipments.
8. Background working with ERP systems such as NetSuite for procurement planning, supplier management, and cost tracking.