Buyer at Shoprite Group of Companies

What you'll do

• Analyse product availability, pricing trends, supplier engagement, and category insights to ensure competitiveness within the pharmaceutical wholesale sector.
• Evaluate and categorise the product portfolio to recommend appropriate range coverage aligned with customer demand, branch requirements, supplier capabilities, and the company's commercial strategy.
• Monitor cost and selling prices to optimise margins, affordability, competitiveness, and service delivery across the product range.
• Support supplier negotiations by analysing pricing data, validating assumptions, and proposing commercially viable pricing strategies.
• Review promotional lines and pricing structures to facilitate effective advertising campaigns and promotional activities.
• Investigate and resolve stock level issues across branches and distribution centres by monitoring price movements, supplier lead times, shortages, and demand fluctuations.
• Analyse product gaps and market trends to recommend profitable sourcing decisions and support supply continuity.
• Collaborate with suppliers, inventory, distribution, and operations teams to enhance the end-to-end supply chain process and maintain optimal product flow and service levels.
• Recommend practical merchandising layouts that align with consumer purchasing patterns and operational needs.

What you bring

• Degree or Diploma in Business, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field (essential).
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in buying, procurement, or sourcing roles within pharmaceutical, healthcare, wholesale, distribution, or commercial trading environments (essential).
• Proven expertise in sourcing and supplier management, including experience with complex vendor and supplier negotiations (essential).
• Strong understanding of supply chain principles, processes, and systems (essential).
• Comprehensive knowledge of factors influencing product cost and pricing strategies (essential).
• Demonstrated commercial acumen with an understanding of financial trade-offs in category sales (essential).
• Familiarity with the pharmaceutical wholesale value chain, distribution environments, and profitability drivers (essential).
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office 365, with high-level skills in Microsoft Excel (essential).
• Exceptional analytical and numerical skills, capable of interpreting complex data to support informed buying decisions.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.