COLLINS INNOCENT KUPAPAALA
Lusaka,Zambia
Summary
Results-driven Procurement Executive with over 20 years of leadership in Public and Private administration, and in different sectors including Energy, Manufacturing, Agricultural and Mining. Expertise includes Public Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Contracts negotiation, Contracts Lifecycle Management, Annual Procurement Planning, and tender evaluation. Achieved significant cost savings and inventory reductions while maintaining service levels for critical materials. Proven ability to enhance Procurement processes and develop high-performing Procurement teams that are accountable, efficient and audit-compliant.
Overview
1
1
Language
17
17
years of post-secondary education
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Head – Inventory and Stores
ZESCO Limited
Lusaka
01.2024 - 01.2026
- Led enterprise-wide inventory and stores operations for Zambia’s national electricity utility, with oversight of the Main Central Bulk Stores and provincial distribution centres in Livingstone, Ndola and Kitwe.
- Directed inventory stock replenishment, procurements and controls supporting power generation and distribution, safeguarding a multi-million-dollar asset base and maintaining material availability for critical infrastructure.
- Leveraged demand forecasts, stock analytics, and risk mitigation to bolster supply resilience and ensure service continuity for critical infrastructure.
- Strengthened systems, stock accuracy, data integrity, shrinkage controls, and asset utilisation through process modernisation and continuous improvement, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Set team performance measures and KPIs, developed staff across multiple sites, and coordinated with executive and procurement stakeholders to align stores strategy with organizational objectives.
- Promoted accountability and compliance with health, safety and environmental requirements across warehouse operations.
Senior Manager – Procurement and Inventory
Zambia Sugar Plc
Mazabuka
05.2014 - 04.2023
- Led procurement and inventory transformation for a major Illovo Group agricultural and manufacturing operation.
- Redesigned Procurement and Inventory function, enhancing operating structure, governance, policies, procedures, and performance management systems to drive operational efficiency.
- Redesigned the Procurement and Inventory function, including operating structure, governance, policies, procedures and performance management systems.
- Reduced inventory holdings by 20%, maintained 95% service levels for normal stock and 100% for critical materials, and improved working-capital performance.
- Negotiated and managed high-value supplier contracts, establishing partnerships and performance scorecards to enhance delivery reliability and foster continuous improvement.
- Improved inbound logistics and warehouse operations through demand-driven planning; optimized inventory turnover to 4x annually and strengthened ABC classification, reorder points and cycle counting.
- Led and developed a high-performing team; contributed to three Illovo Group Procurement and Supply Chain Excellence Awards (2021–2022), including Top Performing Country designation.
Procurement Manager
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA)
Lusaka
01.2013 - 04.2014
- Directed procurement operations for the national tax authority, focusing on compliance, transparency and value for public funds.
- Managed procurement of goods, services and works across organisation; developed annual procurement planning framework aligned with institutional priorities and budget constraints to enhance resource allocation.
- Streamlined tender administration and evaluation processes, reinforcing fairness, transparency, and compliance with public procurement requirements.
- Established robust tender documentation and audit trails to strengthen accountability and facilitate audits.
- Advised internal stakeholders on specifications, market analysis, and procurement strategy; promoted adherence to Public Procurement Act and related regulations to ensure regulatory compliance.
Provincial Head – Purchasing and Supplies Unit
Government of Zambia, Provincial Administration
Solwezi
01.2010 - 12.2012
- Led the provincial Purchasing and Supplies Unit and procurement for major infrastructure and social-development projects.
- Managed complex tenders for roads, civil works, healthcare facilities, schools and other public infrastructure, including construction and maintenance programs.
- Advised Provincial Permanent Secretary and leadership on procurement strategy and resource allocation, enhancing risk management practices.
- Focused on transparent public procurement and compliance, training and mentoring staff to elevate professional capability.
Inventory Controller
Mopani Copper Mines Plc
Kitwe
01.2003 - 12.2008
- Established Forward Purchasing Agreements with critical suppliers and refined reorder parameters, safety stocks and replenishment triggers using consumption and lead-time analysis.
- Rationalised inventory catalogue data, corrected classifications, and removed duplicate records, enhancing data integrity and governance.
- Established Forward Purchasing Agreements with critical suppliers, refined reorder parameters, safety stocks, and replenishment triggers to align with consumption and lead-time analysis.
- Streamlined goods receipt and materials-issuing processes, enhanced demand forecasting, and elevated customer service for internal stakeholders.
Education
Executive MBA - Leadership & Wealth Creation
University of Lusaka
Lusaka , Zambia 01.2019 - 11.2020
MSc - Procurement, Logistics & Supply Chain Management
University of Lusaka
Lusaka , Zambia 07.2012 - 10.2016
Postgraduate Diploma - Business Administration
Copperbelt University
Kitwe , Zambia 07.2008 - 07.2011
CIPS Level 6 Graduate Diploma (MCIPS) - Procurement and Supplies
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply
London , United Kingdom 05.2004 - 01.2008
BSc - Production & Operations Management
Copperbelt University
Kitwe, Zambia 01.1995 - 07.1999
Skills
- Procurement Technical advice
- Public Procurement
- Procurement Law
- Regulatory compliance
- Audit trail documentation
- Bid evaluation
- Tender administration
- Contract negotiation
- Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM)
- Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
- Strategic sourcing
- Performance monitoring
- Procurement process redesign
- Inventory optimization
- Demand forecasting
- Supply Risk management
- Management reporting
- Budget management
- Process optimization
- Multi-site operations
- ERP systems - SAP, eGP, Sage Accpac and Tranquillity
- Team development
- Procurement Committee Secretariat support
- Audit trail documentation
- Ethical decision-making
- Audit trail documentation
Accomplishments
- ZMW 65 million procurement savings and cost avoidance at Zambia Sugar through sourcing, contract optimisation and supplier rationalisation.
- 20% inventory reduction at Zambia Sugar and 30% stock reduction at Mopani Copper Mines, with service and operational continuity maintained.
- Three Illovo Group Procurement and Supply Chain Excellence Awards (2021–2022), including Top Performing Country designation.
- 100% service level on critical materials and 95% on normal stock at Zambia Sugar; inventory turnover of 4x annually.
- Public-sector procurement experience at ZRA and Government Provincial Administration, covering planning, tenders, compliance and audit records.
Affiliations
- Full Member (MCIPS) – Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS);
- Fellow (FZIPS) – Zambia Institute of Procurement and Supply(ZIPS);
- Full Member (MloDZ) – Institute of Directors Zambia(IoDZ)
Personal Information
English – Full professional proficiency | Kaonde, Nyanja and Bemba – Bilingual/native proficiency
Languages
English
Proficient
C2
Timeline
Head – Inventory and Stores
ZESCO Limited
01.2024 - 01.2026
Executive MBA - Leadership & Wealth Creation
University of Lusaka
01.2019 - 11.2020
Senior Manager – Procurement and Inventory
Zambia Sugar Plc
05.2014 - 04.2023
Procurement Manager
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA)
01.2013 - 04.2014
MSc - Procurement, Logistics & Supply Chain Management
University of Lusaka
07.2012 - 10.2016
Provincial Head – Purchasing and Supplies Unit
Government of Zambia, Provincial Administration
01.2010 - 12.2012
Postgraduate Diploma - Business Administration
Copperbelt University
07.2008 - 07.2011
CIPS Level 6 Graduate Diploma (MCIPS) - Procurement and Supplies
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply
05.2004 - 01.2008
Inventory Controller
Mopani Copper Mines Plc
01.2003 - 12.2008
BSc - Production & Operations Management
Copperbelt University
01.1995 - 07.1999