Senior Buyer

Our client manufactures, markets, and sells tissue and hygiene products through retail and business-to-business channels in South Africa and neighbouring countries. They are currently seeking a highly capable Senior Buyer to be responsible for purchasing goods, materials, and services to ensure that the company operational needs are met. This role will also proactively investigate Value Engineering opportunities as vetting pricing provides by contractors on materials and services quotes. The Senior Buyer is responsible for leading negotiations, supplier management and independently identifying cost-saving opportunities and vendor risks.

**Position details**:
Type: Permanent
Reports to: Head of Supply Chain

Job description / core competencies:
Manage the buying process for a given set of goods in line with specified cost, quality and delivery targets.

Collect, organize and synthesize data to support others in their functional area.

Analyse data and reports using statistical techniques.

Develop and maintain a strong foundation of function skills and knowledge of relevant purchasing and sourcing concepts.

Manage problems and schedule changes and ensure changes are reflected within our ERP system.

Negotiate contracts, improved prices and terms of business with suppliers and review opportunities to make business savings utilising negotiation and procurement best practice tools and methods.

Balance both tactical executions with strategic initiatives necessary to drive cost reduction projects.

Actively participate in supplier performance reviews and undertake research on new suppliers.

Deliver briefs, updates and reports as required.

Establish working relationships with vendors to strengthen business and support company strategies.

Contact suppliers to resolve price, quality, delivery or invoice issues.

Ensure continuous supply of required goods and materials and communicate any supply problems which may pose a risk or impact on business operations.

**Location**: Kempton Park, Gauteng

**Job Qualifications, Skills & Experience**:
Relevant manufacturing/engineering degree is preferred.

Membership of Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) is an asset.

Proven purchasing experience, preferably within a manufacturing environment.

Contract management and supplier development experience.

Robust technical knowledge.

Experience working with ERP systems or databases.

Project management experience.

Strong interpersonal skills.

Strong organizational and time management skills.

Expert negotiation skills.

Ability to communicate with all levels of management.

Proficient in the use of MS Office, ERP (Syspro preferable but any ERP system exposure is acceptable).