Senior Buyer

SUMMARY:
Well known pharmaceutical / consumer health and wellness company is looking for an experienced Senior Buyer.

POSITION INFO:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF JOB PURPOSE
Service business needs through: the strategic management of contract manufacturers and suppliers, management of all costs associated with the production of the final product, by applying best procurement practices.

COMPETENCIES

Qualifications
Grade 12
Bachelor's Degree and/or National Diploma in Supply Chain Management, Procurement or related field and related tertiary a related field.
A professional procurement certification (such as CIPS) will be an advantage

Experience
Minimum of 4 - 5 years’ experience in procurement
Minimum of two years’ experience in a senior procurement role
Pharmaceutical, vitamins, supplementary, healthcare, cosmetic or food industry experience is required.

Knowledge
In-depth knowledge of the best practices in supply chain, procurement and risk management is essential.

Competencies – CORE
Application of best procurement principles
Strategic sourcing, vendor management, contract management
Cost management and control of local and imported goods
Excellent negotiation skills coupled with the ability to plan and prioritize
Ability to interpret, capture, understand and satisfy the organization’s short, medium and long-term needs
Knowledge and ability to develop and implement procurement strategies.

Personal Characteristics
Strategic thinker
Good Analytical Skills
Strong Problem-solving and decision-making skills
Work well independently as well as in a team
Ability to cope with pressure in a fast-paced, result-driven environment

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS ROLE
Strategic sourcing (Service level to orders percentage)
Managing vendor relationships
Cost Management
Identifying/implementing cost reduction opportunities
Continuously developing the procurement department
Supporting new product development initiatives

THE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THIS ROLE

Procurement Strategy and Strategic Sourcing
Identify and source high-quality raw and finished materials within the business offering scope.
Identify and evaluate potential suppliers based on quality, price, delivery reliability, and regulatory compliance, negotiating contracts and pricing agreements.
Conduct market analysis by monitoring market trends, price fluctuations, and competitor activity to inform purchasing decisions and identify potential cost savings opportunities
Develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with company goals, including inventory management, demand forecasting, lead time optimization and risk management as part of effective procurement planning.
Monitor and report against the Service Level to Order percentages.
Collaborate with sales, marketing, production, quality assurance, and research teams to align procurement with business needs.

Vendor Management
Source vendors who have the capability and capacity to satisfy the organisations current and future needs.
Structure relationships with vendors to ensure that it remains performance-driven.
Monitor and manage the performance of vendors by establishing a structured service-level agreement.
Collaborate with vendors to identify opportunities for existing product improvement and/or new product development.
Devise short, medium and long-term supplier strategies to ensure that vendor relationships/partnerships continuously deliver value to the organisation.
Develop a scorecard to align vendor to business needs and to measure performance and drive improvement.
Ensure that the organisation is aligned with vendors that can contribute towards the organisations long-term objectives.

Cost Management
Negotiate prices on new and existing products.
Identify and implement cost reduction opportunities independently as well as in collaboration with stakeholders.
Establish/maintain open book costing with all contract manufacturers.
Identify opportunities to establish rebate structures with contract manufacturers and suppliers.
Ensure that all cost movements are justified, recorded and reported.
Establish protocols for raw material and packaging waste at contract manufacturers.
Conduct regular benchmarks to ensure that costs remain competitive.

Best Procurement Practices
Develop policies and procedures to ensure that best purchasing practices and compliance management are applied.
Develop strategies to ensure that procurement decisions consider the requirements of all internal stakeholders.
Develop strategies to support the organisations BBBEE objectives and corporate governance policy.

Project Management and Reporting
Through a structured and calculated approach, manage new and existing product development projects efficiently.
Collaborate with all internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the collective knowledge is impressed on all projects.
Ensure that all projects are tracked and that desired timelines are achieved.
Track procurement metrics, generate and analyse reports to identify areas for improvement and inform strategic decisions.