Procurement & Inventory Manager at Macsteel

Job Advert Summary    

• The Procurement and Inventory Manager will provide end-to-end ownership, leadership, and governance of the organization’s procurement and inventory functions in accordance with company Policies and Procedures.
• This position is accountable for ensuring procurement decisions are commercially sound, inventory is optimally positioned across branches, financial controls are robust, and working capital is effectively managed. The role is critical to strengthen financial discipline, mitigating risk, improving service levels, and ensuring procurement and inventory decisions support the long-term interests of the business

Minimum Requirements    

• Knowledge in the Fluid Control range of products (Pipes, Fittings, Flanges and Valves) is preferrable.
• Degree / Diploma in Supply Chain Management
• Proven experience in procurement and inventory management in a complex, multi-branch environment for at least ten years.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with experience managing high-value purchasing decisions
• Understanding of procurement fundamentals, supplier negotiations, logistics and inventory control
• Demonstrated ability to implement governance frameworks and approval controls
• Strong data analysis and decision-making capability
• Management experience of 5 years

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and commercial insight
• Strong leadership and accountability
• Attention to detail balanced with big-picture thinking
• Decisive, structured decision making
• Ability to influence across functions (sales, finance, operations)

Duties and Responsibilities    
Strategic Procurement Leadership

• Establish and lead a structured procurement strategy aligned to business objectives, demand patterns, and market conditions.
• Provide commercial oversight of supplier pricing, cost movements, and order decisions to ensure value, consistency, and transparency.
• Reduce reactive and isolated buying decisions by implementing standardized, data-based decision-making processes.
• Develop strong supplier relationships and ensure procurement decisions reflect product, market, and supplier knowledge.

Inventory Optimization and Working Capital Management

• Align procurement, demand planning, and inventory management to optimize stock availability, cash flow, and service levels.
• Proactively manage excess, slow-moving, and redundant inventory at a group level.
• Drive inter-branch stock movement where appropriate to reduce excess and stock shortages.
• Implement solutions for reducing obsolescence while supporting sales growth initiatives.
• Design and enforce a formal governance framework for inventory journals, cost price changes, adjustments, and approvals.

Operational Effectiveness and Branch Support

• Ensure timely and effective replenishment of stock to all branches to minimize stock-outs, lost sales, and sales team underutilization.
• Provide structured feedback, insight, and recommendations to branch and senior management.

Team Leadership and Capability Building

• Lead, direct, and develop the central procurement and inventory team, providing clear guidance, escalation paths, and accountability.
• Ensure buying clerks, planners and administrators operate within clear authority frameworks and are supported by senior commercial oversight.
• Review team structure and capacity to ensure the function is appropriately resourced and balanced.

Financial and Commercial Accountability

• Provide oversight of high-value purchasing decisions involving significant financial exposure.
• Analyze pricing variances, supplier discrepancies, and historical buying patterns to identify risks, opportunities, and systemic weaknesses.
• Support finance and senior leadership with accurate reporting, insights, and recommendations.

Key Deliverables

• Improved procurement governance and reduced pricing and decision variance
• Improved stock availability and reduced lost sales
• Optimized working capital through better inventory control
• Reduced excess and redundant stock
• Strong commercial discipline and accountability across procurement activities