Connections Officer _ Procurement and Materials Management job at Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL)

Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) is a limited liability company incorporated in Uganda under the Companies Act. UEDCL owns the 33KV and below voltage electricity distribution networks. The company sales and distributes electricity in Uganda as per ERA License issued on 31 December 2024 covering over 135 political districts, operates a modern pole plant at Lugogo, and executes key rural electrification schemes on behalf of the Government of Uganda.

This is primarily a coordination and analytics role. The Connections Officer in Procurement and Materials Management serves as the central link between the Connections (Access Programme) section, Procurement and Inventory & Stores functions, ensuring seamless coordination of all materials activities that support new connections.

Equally critical, the role carries a strong analytics mandate: the job holder is expected to interrogate data, generate insights and produce timely, decision- ready information on demand, stock, lead times and procurement progress. The overall objective is to ensure that the right materials are available in the right quantities, at the right location and at the right time to support timely execution of new connection works.

Responsibilities or duties

Materials Planning: Develop and maintain a comprehensive materials plan for new connections, aligned with the department's connection targets, project pipeline and service-level commitments.

Procurement Coordination: Liaise with the Procurement team to track the progress of all procurements relating to new connections at every stage from requisition and sourcing through contracting, order placement and delivery and proactively escalate any delays or risks.

Inventory & Stores Coordination: Coordinate with the Inventory and Stores team on the readiness of contracts for delivery of materials, including call-offs, receipts, and onward distribution of materials to the sites where new connection works are to be executed.

Data Analytics & Demand Planning: Lead the analytics agenda for new connection materials analyzing consumption trends, stock positions, lead times, forecast accuracy and procurement performance, and translate these into clear, decision- ready dashboards and reports that support informed decision- making by management.

Stakeholder Reporting: Prepare and share periodic status reports on materials availability, procurement progress and distribution to the Head of Connections and other key stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement: Identify and recommend improvements to materials planning, coordination and distribution processes to reduce lead times, minimize stock- outs and optimize working capital tied up in inventory.

Ensure inspection of materials and processes to verify compliance with approved standards, identify defects and ensure resolution.

Assess supplier-related risks and develop contingency plans for critical materials and services.

Any other duties as shall be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Academic Qualifications

A bachelor's degree in business administration, Engineering, Quantitative Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field.

Membership of a recognized supply chain professional body such as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) or the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) is an added advantage.

Recognized certifications in supply chain management, for example Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM) or equivalent will be an added advantage.

Experience needed

Experience

Five (5) to seven (7) years of relevant experience as a Materials Planner or Demand Planner within a multinational organization.

Demonstrable experience working within the power sector, particularly in an electricity distribution company.

Hands- on experience with ERP or materials management systems e.g. SAP, Oracle.

Advanced, practical working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Power BI including the ability to build and maintain data models, dashboards and automated reports.

Sound working knowledge of procurement and inventory management processes is vital including sourcing, contracting, call-offs, goods receipt, stock control and distribution.

Key Competencies

Strong analytical and data- handling skills (core to this role); ability to interrogate large datasets, identify trends, build models and translate insights into actionable materials plans and management reports.

Strong coordination skills (core to this role); ability to align multiple stakeholders, track commitments and keep activities across Connections, Procurement and Stores moving in step.

Planning and organization; ability to manage multiple priorities, schedules and deadlines simultaneously.

Stakeholder management and communication; effective written and verbal communication with cross- functional, teams and external suppliers.

Attention to detail and accuracy particularly in data handling, reporting and record- keeping.

Problem- solving and decision- making; proactive approach to anticipating bottlenecks and resolving supply issues.

Integrity and accountability; high level of professional ethics in handling company resources and information.

Strong teamwork and collaboration; ability to work effectively across procurement, stores and operations functions.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive materials plan for new connections, aligned with the department's connection targets, project pipeline and service-level commitments.
• Liaise with the Procurement team to track the progress of all procurements relating to new connections at every stage from requisition and sourcing through contracting, order placement and delivery and proactively escalate any delays or risks.
• Coordinate with the Inventory and Stores team on the readiness of contracts for delivery of materials, including call-offs, receipts, and onward distribution of materials to the sites where new connection works are to be executed.
• Lead the analytics agenda for new connection materials analyzing consumption trends, stock positions, lead times, forecast accuracy and procurement performance, and translate these into clear, decision- ready dashboards and reports that support informed decision- making by management.
• Prepare and share periodic status reports on materials availability, procurement progress and distribution to the Head of Connections and other key stakeholders.
• Identify and recommend improvements to materials planning, coordination and distribution processes to reduce lead times, minimize stock- outs and optimize working capital tied up in inventory.
• Ensure inspection of materials and processes to verify compliance with approved standards, identify defects and ensure resolution.
• Assess supplier-related risks and develop contingency plans for critical materials and services.
• Any other duties as shall be assigned from time to time.

• Strong analytical and data- handling skills
• Strong coordination skills
• Planning and organization
• Stakeholder management and communication
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Problem- solving and decision- making
• Integrity and accountability
• Strong teamwork and collaboration

• A bachelor's degree in business administration, Engineering, Quantitative Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field.
• Membership of a recognized supply chain professional body such as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) or the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) is an added advantage.
• Recognized certifications in supply chain management, for example Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM) or equivalent will be an added advantage.