Procurement Officer at Unique Personnel

The Procurement Officer is responsible for the sourcing, negotiation, and acquisition of goods and services across two procurement streams:

• Core FMCG operations procurement.
• Ad hoc project-based procurement for customers across Africa, including industrial equipment, consumables, catering supplies, and other diverse product categories.
• The role ensures the organisation secures the right products at the right quality, price, and delivery timelines while maintaining strong supplier and customer relationships and supporting overall cost-control objectives.
• The successful candidate will work closely with suppliers, customers, warehouse teams, sales teams, and management to ensure efficient procurement processes and high levels of service delivery.
• Scope of Procurement

The role includes procurement of:

• FMCG goods and related supplies
• Industrial equipment for customer projects
• Consumables across multiple industries
• Catering supplies
• Various other goods and services required for projects across Africa

Key Responsibilities

• Source, evaluate, and onboard suppliers for both FMCG and ad hoc project procurement requirements.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, and service-level agreements to achieve cost savings and operational efficiencies.
• Issue, manage, and reconcile purchase orders from initiation through to final delivery.
• Support project-based procurement for African customers, including sourcing industrial equipment, consumables, catering supplies, and other required products.
• Liaise directly with customers regarding quotations, project requirements, lead times, pricing, and deliveries.
• Monitor stock requirements in collaboration with warehouse, sales, and production teams to prevent stock-outs and overstocks.
• Maintain accurate procurement records, supplier databases, BBBEE documentation, and contract registers.
• Track supplier performance against key performance indicators such as delivery accuracy, lead times, pricing, and quality.
• Conduct regular market analysis and price benchmarking using Microsoft 365 tools and AI-assisted research platforms.
• Prepare procurement reports, cost-saving reports, and management dashboards.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, procedures, and relevant legislation.
• Identify and implement process improvements and cost-saving initiatives, including the use of AI-driven procurement tools and workflows.

Key Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Matric / Grade 12 (essential).
• Relevant Diploma or Certificate in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or Business Administration (advantageous).
• Minimum 3–5 years’ procurement experience.
• FMCG procurement experience is essential and non-negotiable.
• Experience procuring across diverse non-FMCG categories such as industrial equipment, consumables, catering supplies, or similar sectors is highly advantageous.
• Proven experience managing procurement processes end-to-end, including supplier negotiations and purchase order management.
• Working knowledge of cross-border and Africa-based procurement, logistics, and lead times is advantageous.
• Clear criminal record and clean credit record are non-negotiable due to the financial nature of the role.

Critical Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Ability to draft professional RFQs, supplier correspondence, contracts, and customer communications.
• Strong working proficiency in Microsoft 365, including:
• Outlook
• Excel (advanced proficiency essential)
• Word
• Teams
• SharePoint
• Advanced Excel skills for:
• Price comparisons
• Supplier analysis
• Procurement reporting
• Demonstrable experience using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, or similar platforms to support:
• Market research
• Supplier benchmarking
• Contract review
• Procurement documentation
• Customer communication drafting

Customer-Facing Competencies

• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with customers at all levels.
• Strong customer service etiquette and responsiveness.
• Good understanding of service delivery and customer satisfaction principles.
• Ability to manage customer expectations regarding pricing, lead times, availability, and project scope.
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity when working with customers across diverse African markets.

Personal Attributes

• High level of integrity and ethical conduct.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-management skills.
• Analytical mindset with sound commercial acumen.
• Customer-centric and service-oriented approach.
• Excellent organisational and time-management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Adaptable and open to new technologies, including AI-driven procurement tools and systems