Shahzad Akbar

About Shahzad Akbar

STRATEGIC SOURCING & CATEGORY MANAGEMENT LEADER My professional superpower is…

Experience

1. Global Procurement Director

   JSI

   Sep 2016 — Present · Boston, MA, US

   As Global Procurement Director for JSI\'s International Division, I lead strategic procurement initiatives and capacity building across a portfolio spanning 30+ countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Managing a $150M+ procurement budget and multi-disciplinary team, I drive category management strategies, strategic sourcing initiatives, and vendor optimization, ensuring procurement excellence across the organization.Key Achievements:• Transformed organizational procurement capabilities by implementing a comprehensive global training program for 300+ staff members, elevating procurement quality standards and ensuring full compliance in high-risk, high-value transactions while maintaining zero audit findings.• Orchestrated multimillion-dollar procurement operations with 100% compliance across FDA, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Federal regulations and compliance, and international trade regulations, establishing new benchmarks for quality and regulatory excellence in global health commodity procurement.• Salvaged $10M+ in project value, through an innovative strategic infrastructure initiative in Zambia, deploying clinics and warehouses that enabled millions of patients to receive critical care through optimized facility networks.• Delivered 40%+ cost reduction in commodity categories and professional services through strategic sourcing optimization and implementation of advanced procurement methodologies while enhancing service quality and stakeholder satisfaction.• Established streamlined procurement ecosystem with preferred vendors across multiple countries, reducing procurement cycle times by 50%+ through implementing blanket purchase agreements and strategic vendor partnerships.

Education

• University of Cambridge

  Certification: Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Logistics, and Materials

• University of the Punjab, Lahore

  Bachelor of Commerce

• University of Southern Queensland

  Master's Program: Project Management (Coursework)

Skills

• Negotiation
• Contract Negotiation
• Analysis
• Vendor Management
• Project Coordination
• Team Management
• Budgets
• Nonprofits
• Capacity Building
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Business Process Improvement
• Change Management
• Data Analysis
• Project Planning
• Supply Chain
• Purchasing
• Process Improvement
• Logistics Management
• Logistics
• Training
• Program Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Procurement
• Policy
• Forecasting
• Contract Management
• Strategic Sourcing
• Team Building
• Management
• Warehousing
• Project Management
• Operations Management
• International Development
• Inventory Management
• Team Leadership
• Proposal Writing
• Strategic Planning