Salesh Kumar

Procurement Manager at The University of the South Pacific (USP)

• Fiji
• My current job since July 2015

PROCUREMENT People directly managed: 1 Deputy Procurement Manager, 1 Team Leader Procurement, 1 Team Leader Contract Management, 3 Procurement Officers, 1 Customs/Logistics Officer and 1 Contract Administrator. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE People directly managed: 1 Accountant, 2 Graduate AP Officers, Cashier Payments and 1 Overseas Payment Graduate. Key Responsibilities:
Since joining USP in 2015, my primary responsibilities are:
• Leadership and operational development 1. To provide effective leadership of all matters relating to the procurement functions and the provision of procurement services to the University wide. 2. Lead the team in implementing USP's Governance and Operational procurement policies in effective, timely and qualitative manner. 3. Establish targets for cost savings and develop sourcing strategies for major commodities. 4. Manage the Procure2Pay process (procurement and accounts payable) 5. Contribute as a member of USP's Budget Efficiency Working Group comprising all Senior Management Team members aimed to reduce the operational cost; 6. Develop and implement procurement policies and procedures University Wide; 7. Provide strategic advice on procurement initiatives in the effort to improve the entire procurement and supply processes and systems; 8. Manager donor Agencies such as World Bank, Asian Development Bank on projects as part of the procurement input; 9. Oversee the University's entire Tender Administration; 10. Prepare, submit and present the Tender Board Papers; 11. Work with other departments and faculties to ensure that the procurement of goods and services are carried on timely, cost effective and efficient manner; 12. Contract Management.
• Organizational management and effectiveness 1. Taking a lead role in managing major organizational change processes to ensure ongoing operational effectiveness and the achievement of USPs strategic objectives, 2. Reviewing, developing and updating policies and procedures required.
• Financial management and support 1. Ensuring that key procurement functions, including procurement, and overall operations are well managed and in accordance of USP policies and procedures. 2. Undertaking any reviews or making changes to the existing policies and practices to improve organizational effectiveness. 3. Managing procurement policies and processes to ensure that USP achieves value for the products and services it procures, and ensuring effective working relationships are developed and maintained with relevant external stakeholders.
• Team management 1. Leading and supporting the procurement team, including performance management, team building and skills development. 2. Adhere to and monitor the application of procurement policies and procedures within the procurement teams. Key Achievements:
• Successfully prepared the Tender Bidding Documents for the Solomon Islands Construction Project worth US$15million. This project is funded by Asian Development Bank.
• Successfully implemented the USP's first ever online request for quote application (e Quote System) which will result high level of transparency when seeking quotation by the USP's from any 12 campuses.
• Proposed and successfully re-engineered the mailroom operations services saving the University approximately $100, 000 per annum.
• Proposed and successfully implemented the centralization of USP's Media Print Advertisement resulting the University a saving of approximately $250, 000 per annum.
• Worked closely with the Chief Security Officer to review and outsource security services.
• Reviewed and revised the University's Contractual Agreement for Supply, Works and Services.
• Enhanced the Tender Administration processes resulting in quick turnaround of tenders from release to award.
• Planned and implemented Strategic Procurement for the University.
• Revised 22 individual procurement policies into 4 major procurement policies.
• Achieved 80% of KPI as part of the continuous improvement process.
• Introduced the KPI's and reviewed on a quarterly basis.
• Timely, quality and informative Management and Council reports.
• Acting Executive Director Finance on various occasions in excess of 10 consecutive working days.