Inventory & Logistics Officer (Northern Cape) at Datafin Recruitment

ENVIRONMENT:

• Our client is a prominent organisation focused on supporting research advancement and human capital development through funding programmes, research infrastructure, and science outreach initiatives across a broad range of disciplines. 
• The Inventory and Logistics Officer will be responsible for establishing, managing, and continuously improving warehousing and logistics operations across multiple operational sites, with regular travel required between locations.
• This role includes overseeing the control of engineering materials, spare parts, and maintenance consumables, as well as managing the engineering purchasing workflow, with the primary objective of maximising equipment reliability, availability, and maintainability.

DUTIES

• Manage and control engineering materials, spare parts, and maintenance consumables inventory.
• Oversee logistics operations between the Science Operations Centre (SOC) in Cape Town and the Engineering Operations Centre (EOC) in Klerefontein, Carnarvon, Northern Cape, including frequent travel between both sites.
• Manage warehouse operations at both facilities.
• Collaborate with maintenance teams to support equipment reliability, availability, and maintainability.
• Maintain documentation and record-keeping for all inventory and logistics activities.
• Support maintenance planning through accurate inventory data and timely logistics coordination.
• Provide field technical support as required.

REQUIREMENTS

Qualification:

• B-Tech Engineering in Supply Chain Management or similar; OR
• National Diploma in Supply Chain Management or similar; OR
• N5 Certificate in Supply Chain Management or similar.
• Valid driver’s license.

Experience:

• BTech qualification coupled with 5 years of related experience in Supply Chain Management, Contract and/or risk management; OR
• National Diploma coupled with 6 years of related experience in Supply Chain Management, Contract and/or risk management; OR
• N5 coupled with 8 years of related experience in Supply Chain Management, Contract and/or risk management.
• Knowledge of PFMA and Supply Chain Management legislation.

Knowledge:

• Comprehensive knowledge of general corporate business practices, government and supply chain regulations and principles, and sub-contracting practices in either engineering or construction environments.
• Good understanding of procurement principles in the public sector.
• Ability to work and interact at senior levels as a team player.
• High levels of judgement and ethical standards.
• Demonstrated experience in finances, people, project teams, and contracts.
• Attentiveness to detail and accuracy.
• Competence in Microsoft applications.
• Advanced knowledge of computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) software or similar (advantageous).

ATTRIBUTES

Core Competencies (Essential):

• Teamwork and Collaboration: Cooperates with others to achieve organisational objectives and shares team resources to do this. Collaborates with other teams as well as industry colleagues.
• Influence and Communication: Identifies critical stakeholders and influences them via an established network to gain support for sometimes contentious proposals or ideas.
• Judgement and Problem Solving: Anticipates and manages problems in ambiguous situations. Develops and selects appropriate courses of action and provides for contingencies. Evaluates, interprets, and integrates complex bodies of information, draws logical conclusions, synthesises proposals, and defends options with reasoned arguments.

Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills for dealing with a wide range of people, including the ability to transfer knowledge to other members of the engineering team.
• Flexible team player who is adaptable to change and can work on their own initiative.

Organisational Values:
The Inventory and Logistics Officer will be expected to demonstrate the following values and to work actively to instil those behaviours in all their colleagues in South Africa:

• Diversity and Inclusion
• Excellence
• Collaboration
• Creativity and Innovation
• Sustainability
• Passion for Excellence
• World-class service
• People-centred approach
• Respect
• Integrity and Ethics
• Accountability