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.

Inherent Requirements    
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.