Senior Buyer

**Job Advert Summary**:
Rand Water is looking for a Senior Buyer who will be responsible for purchasing goods, materials and services to ensure that the company operational needs are met, taking into account price, quality and delivery and to ensure continuity of supply in line with the Sourcing Manager’s strategy per commodity.

This role has greater responsibility and accountability than a Buyer and includes some people management responsibility (some Buyers would report to the Senior Buyers in some projects). The job holder may take responsibility for a specific project or hold a larger remit in terms of purchasing responsibility.

**Minimum Requirements**:

- Bachelor’s Degree or Honours in Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, Legal studies. Membership of Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) is an added advantage.
- 5+ Years of related procurement experience including purchasing, contract negotiation, supply management, supplier relationships, basics of cost accounting, and tracking budget expenses.
- Working knowledge of the legal aspects of procurement and contract law.
- Project management experience.

**Primary Duties**:

- Deliver briefs, updates and reports as and when required by the Sourcing Manager
- Purchase goods, materials, components or services in line with specified cost, quality and delivery targets in line with the Sourcing Manager’s strategy per commodity.
- Ensure continuous supply of required goods and materials and communicate any supply problems which may pose a risk or impact on business operations.
- Develop creative and innovative procurement processes.
- Develop ideas and strategies to improve operational efficiency, add value, aid business performance and work towards a strategy of continuous improvement.
- 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.
- Assess and evaluate suppliers and undertake performance reviews to ensure contract compliance and manage performance improvement activities.
- Ensure that a professional and consistent approach is taken in relation to all supplier relationships.
- Ensure compliance to SCM processes, policy and procedures of all contracts intended to source goods and services.
- Ensure the implementation of RFI/ RFP/RFQ process & projections to support bid documents in alignment with procurement internal processes and procedures.
- Facilitate presentation of various reports, proposed contract documents to various SCM committees.
- Act as a liaison between suppliers and involved departments to resolve procurement related problems.
- Monitor supplier performance by ensuring that product is delivered as scheduled and meets specifications; maintaining appropriate files and records of meetings with suppliers to ensure company requirements are met and that supplier is aware of their performance.
- Assist internal and external customers by interpreting laws, policy, codes, and regulations pertaining to purchasing; answer inquiries both orally and in writing concerning purchasing operations.
- Contribute to team effort by accomplishing other job related tasks as needed; enabling other workers to achieve their job objectives.
- Prepare purchase orders in line with final negotiations with selected suppliers and in line with organisational targets and requirements.

**Knowledge**:

- Understanding of Business principles
- Familiar with market research, data analysis and forecasting techniques
- Knowledge of purchasing best practices
- Thorough working knowledge of SAP is essential
- Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the national SCM regulations i.e. PFMA, PPPFA, CIDB Best Practice etc
- Knowledge of Rand Water customised contract suits e.g. FIDIC, NEC3

**Skills**:

- Outstanding communication skills (written and oral)
- Excellent negotiation skills and
- Excellent organizing skills
- Excellent report writing skills
- Efficient organization and time-management skills

**Attitude**:

- Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
- A courteous and professional demeanour
- Strong negotiation skills
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Be accountable and responsible
- Attention to detail
- Spontaneous
- Be organized
- Can work under pressure without jeopardising the company’s performance