Category Lead (JHB North) at Aspen Pharma Group

OBJECTIVE OF ROLE

• Lead supplier development, manage supplier negotiations, and oversee RFQs while driving the CMO category strategy for major suppliers. The role also focuses on identifying and implementing continuous improvement opportunities to enhance supplier performance, procurement efficiency, and overall supply chain effectiveness.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supplier management

• Communicate and negotiate with suppliers.
• Monitor quality standards and identify performance failures.
• Conduct supplier audits and report on supplier performance.
• Manage supplier communications and documents and process flow, including RFIs, RFP, RFQ, and RFB’s.
• Resolve supplier issues; maintain working relationships with key suppliers.
• Set up new vendors and coordinate with legal to support new contracts; maintain/ update existing contracts.
• Identify new suppliers and products in the marketplace.
• Vet potential suppliers’ capabilities (delivery, quality, services).
• Review insourcing and outsourcing opportunities.
• Negotiate with suppliers to carry stock for fast moving items.
• Assist in the drafting of specifications as required and provide advice and guidance to customers on procurement processes.
• Review and approve price variances (Order vs Invoice Prices).
• BBBEE and procurement administration.

Risk management

• Maintain and report on adherence to internal and external compliance requirements.
• Actively reduce third-party risk exposure.
• Carry out risk management processes within CMO category.

Quality and qualifying products

• Assist quality teams to obtain products needed to conduct finished product testing.
• Schedule product trials and coordinate samples.

Quality and qualifying products

• Assist quality teams to obtain products needed to conduct finished product testing.
• Schedule product trials and coordinate samples.

Reporting and record keeping

• Maintain repository of procurement-related knowledge.
• Maintain complete, compliant documentation of purchasing activities.
• Maintain standards and update SOPs for documentation and filing requirements

Budgeting

• Manage and optimise use of Category budget.
• Provide input into required changes in resources to enable achievement of objectives.
• Monitor, track and report on expenditure against budget.

Planning and coordination

• Optimise processes, identify gaps in policies, procedures and legislation, and propose changes or improvements to management.
• Provide technical advice to internal stakeholders.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Matric
• National Diploma in relevant field (Procurement, Logistics, Supply Chain Management or Finance).

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• 6 years relevant experience
• Experience in a manufacturing procurement environment, and preferably with significant experience in a CMO environment.
• Computer literacy

SOFT SKILLS AND COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

• Customer Awareness
• Meeting Deadlines
• Making Decisions
• Planning and Organising
• Interrogating Information

COMPUTER SKILLS REQUIRED

• The applicant must be proficient in the various applications (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) within the Microsoft Office bundle.

DRIVERS LICENCE

• The successful candidate must have a valid driver’s licence and be able to travel as per the expectations of the role