Procurement Buyer

SUMMARY:
PROCUREMENT BUYER
Location: Pietermaritzburg
 
SECURE SUPPLY. NEGOTIATE SMARTER. KEEP PRODUCTION MOVING.

NON-NEGOTIABLE REQUIREMENTS: 

• Diploma or degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Commerce or a related field.
• Experience procuring raw materials.
• Procurement within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience dealing with local and international suppliers.
• Exposure to ERP/MRP purchasing and materials planning systems.

POSITION INFO:
Minimum requirements: Diploma or degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Commerce or a related discipline. Relevant CIPS or other recognised procurement qualification advantageous. Experience in purchasing or procurement within a manufacturing environment. Experience procuring raw materials, chemicals, industrial consumables or production-related materials advantageous. Experience dealing with local and international suppliers. Exposure to ERP\/MRP purchasing and materials-planning environments. Supplier relationship management skills. Strong attention to detail and accuracy when processing purchase orders and procurement documentation. Personality Traits: Strong planning, organising and prioritisation skills. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Strong follow-up and expediting skills to ensure continuity of supply. Analytical and problem-solving abilities. Duties and responsibilities: Raw Material Procurement: Procure local and imported raw materials in accordance with production plans, material requirements and approved purchasing procedures. Convert approved requirements into purchase orders and ensure orders are placed within required lead times. Verify pricing, quantities, specifications, delivery dates, payment terms and commercial conditions before placing orders. Monitor open purchase orders from placement through to delivery. Expedite critical or overdue orders to prevent production interruptions. Maintain accurate purchasing documentation and records. Production and Inventory Support: Work closely with Planning, Production, Stores, Quality and other relevant departments to understand current and forecast raw material requirements. Review material availability against production demand and identify potential shortages in advance. Prioritise critical materials according to production requirements. Support appropriate inventory levels while balancing continuity of supply against excess and obsolete stock risks. Escalate potential material shortages and supply disruptions before they affect production. Supplier Management: Maintain professional relationships with approved local and international suppliers. Monitor supplier performance regarding delivery, responsiveness, quality, commercial compliance and service. Follow up with suppliers on outstanding orders, delayed deliveries, shortages and quality-related issues. Participate in supplier performance reviews and corrective-action discussions where required. Identify alternative sources for critical raw materials where commercially and technically appropriate. Commercial and Cost Management: Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations. Negotiate pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, payment terms, freight arrangements and other commercial conditions. Conduct price comparisons and support procurement cost-saving initiatives. Challenge unjustified supplier price increases and obtain appropriate supporting information. Identify opportunities for cost reduction, improved payment terms, order consolidation and improved sourcing arrangements. Maintain accurate and up-to-date pricing information. Supply Risk Management: Identify raw materials that present a risk to production due to long lead times, single-source arrangements, capacity constraints, logistics issues or supplier performance. Maintain visibility of critical and potentially constrained materials. Develop recovery actions with suppliers and internal stakeholders when shortages arise. Escalate significant supply risks promptly to the Procurement Manager and affected stakeholders. Support contingency sourcing and alternative-supplier initiatives. Imports and Logistics Coordination: Coordinate imported raw material orders with suppliers and relevant logistics functions. Monitor manufacturing, dispatch, shipping, arrival, and expected delivery dates. Maintain visibility of long-lead-time imported materials. Follow up on documentation required to facilitate the movement and receipt of imported materials. Escalate shipping or logistics delays that could affect production.