SUMMARY:
Buying Manager - Large independent Retail Business
POSITION INFO:
Company: Our client is a well-established, large independent retail business based in Pretoria, operating within a structured group environment and focused on long-term sustainability, disciplined growth, and operational excellence.
Position Overview
Our client is seeking an experienced Buying Manager to lead the company’s procurement, ranging, and stock systems function across its hardware and building materials retail operations.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the successful candidate will play a critical role in ensuring optimal stock availability, disciplined procurement execution, competitive pricing, and effective supplier management across the business.
The role combines strategic buying leadership with strong analytical and systems capability, requiring an individual who understands both the commercial dynamics of hardware and building materials retail and the operational importance of accurate stock management and master data control.
The Buying Manager will oversee supplier negotiations, product ranging, replenishment parameters, pricing alignment, and stock integrity across the company’s branch network.
This position is ideally suited to a commercially astute retail buying professional who thrives in a hands-on, fast-moving retail environment and who can combine industry product knowledge with disciplined systems management.
Key Performance Areas
• Procurement & Supplier Management
• Product Ranging & Category Optimisation
• Stock Replenishment & Inventory Control
• Master Data & Retail Systems Management
• Pricing & Competitive Positioning
• Margin Protection & Commercial Performance
• Cross-Functional Operational Alignment
Personal Attributes
• Strong commercial acumen and margin awareness
• Extensive product knowledge within hardware and building materials
• Highly analytical and systems-oriented
• Strong negotiation and supplier relationship management skills
• Decisive, action-oriented, and operationally grounded
• High attention to detail and governance discipline
• Able to operate effectively in a lean, hands-on organisational structure
