INTRODUCTION OF DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT NINA KAUKORANTA
Hi there!
This is Nina, the new Procurement Development Director at Kospro. My first month as part of Kospro's expert team is coming to an end, and now is a good time to sum up my initial impressions and introduce myself.
A few words about my background to start with.
I am a 34-year-old M.Sc. (Econ.), having studied at Lappeenranta University of Technology and graduated from the Supply Management master's program in 2015. Focusing on procurement management was a clear choice from the beginning of my studies – and I am still on that path!
I have gained experience in the construction industry and procurement since 2011, when I joined a 3-year procurement trainee program. Now, 12 years later, I have diverse experience in various procurement roles, both in project procurement and strategic procurement and its development, as well as in training. At some point, I also became interested in seeing what it is like on the other side of the table and moved to sales tasks for a couple of years. This experience has proven to be extremely valuable. In my opinion, creating good cooperation also requires the ability to step into the shoes of the other party.
"For the past approximately 3.5 years, I have mainly worked in international procurement, supporting the international procurement of projects at various stages of the procurement process, from the calculation phase to contract implementation and final settlement. In addition, I have been responsible for strategic sourcing and procurement development in both concrete construction and prefabrication. Ensuring responsibility throughout the supply chain has been one of the most essential parts of my duties, and the uncertain conditions of recent years, as well as the increasing importance of sustainable construction in the construction industry, have highlighted the significance of responsible procurement, both in terms of grey economy and low-carbon construction.
Balance and versatility are important to me, and outside of work, you can find me in a dance studio, with a brush in hand in front of an easel, or enjoying nature - either alone or with my loved ones."
"I believe I bring versatility and energy to the team, as well as new ideas to develop both our own and our clients' operations."
How did I end up at Kospro?
In January, I received a message from a recruiter via LinkedIn that piqued my interest. After quickly discussing with our CEO Juha and team members Lauri and Tuomas, the work and the team began to feel right – and here we are!
I believe I bring versatility and energy to the team, as well as new ideas to develop both our own and our clients' operations. I feel that my skills complement the expertise of our team, allowing us to offer even more diverse services to our clients. The desire to develop and improve is a major motivator for me, and I believe my new role at Kospro will provide just that!