Commodity Specialist - Sandton at Discovery Limited

Key Purpose

• The main purpose of Commodity specialist is to implement sourcing strategies for CRES services that will drive the objectives of increased savings and inclusive procurement while adhering to governance and managing the objectives of the internal stakeholders. The specialist will effectively manage the assigned portfolio and departmental objectives. An important aspect of this role is optimizing cost efficiencies, supplier performance and supporting Discovery’s business plans.

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

Administration

• Chairing the weekly Procurement forum which review procurement requests for purchase orders.
• Capture purchase orders and assign for approval.
• Matching and receipting of orders for payment to ensure payments are made in required 30 days.
• Creating catalogues for service providers against which they can purchase items within the portfolio.

B-BBEE

• Engaging vendors that do not meet the minimum B-BBEE requirements to agree on a plan to improving their B-BBEE levels.
• Scanning the market to identify vendors that we could onboard to help us reach our shortfalls.
• Recommending vendors to take part in RFP and other sourcing processes.

Contract Management

• Work with business to ensure 80% of spend with suppliers is under contract.
• Engaging with suppliers for contracts renewal prior to expiration.

Managed Spend under procurement

• Meeting with business areas to see how we can influence and increase spend within the areas.
• Discussing the procurement policy and process with the various business areas to use this as part of the compliance.

Savings

• Developing category strategies that will assist in reaching the required savings targets.
• Recording savings achieved into the relevant registers once approved and signed off by business areas.
• Meeting with vendors to see how we can reduce our overall costs and Total cost of ownership (TCO).

Supplier Relationship Management

• Conducting Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR) with strategic suppliers to identify changes in the environment that could impact on Discovery.
• Where suppliers are not meeting the required SLA’s to meet with vendors to provide a remedial plan on how to rectify this.

Reporting

• Development and generate monthly, weekly, adhoc reports for business units and Procurement Management Team

Personal Attributes and Skills

• Must be able to operate independently and under pressure
• Able to perform multiple concurrent tasks and responsibilities and to deal with changing priorities while maintaining personal effectiveness
• Strong negotiation skills at all levels
• Must have a strong understanding of contract management and risk mitigation
• Ability to communicate (orally and in writing) and be responsive to internal customer requirements
• Must be decisive and driven by deadlines
• Must be willing to challenge ideas and provide suggestions which are in the best interests of the company
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal customers and other procurement professionals
• Must exhibit sound interpersonal skills involving interfacing, coordinating and negotiating with internal customers and suppliers

Education and Experience

• Qualification in Supply Chain preferred, preferably CIPS accfedited.
• 5 years procurement experience, with at least 2 years a commodity specialist
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing sourcing strategies which resulted in a world-class supply base that continually exceeded cost, quality, delivery and service objectives.