Procurement Practitioner at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has two vacancies for Procurement Practitioners in the Strategic Procurement portfolio. The incumbents will be responsible for purchasing goods and services for the CSIR within the allowed governance framework, business, and legislative requirements. The positions are based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Create purchase requisitions daily with accuracy, manage and timeously respond to all standard inquiries;
• Check requisitions for adherence to processes, accuracy and completeness;
• Manage all standard RFP and RFQ transactions above R30k (VAT inclusive);
• Consistently identify new technically compliant, transformed, and competitive suppliers of goods and services required to deliver on the CSIR’s procurement requirements;
• Continuously follow up on all quotations, ensure competitiveness and compliance of all quotes before forwarding to clients;
• Ensure that suppliers required to deliver goods and services are appropriately registered;
• Expedite orders to ensure timely delivery and excellent service to all clients;
• Create cost savings opportunities and ensure the CSIR’s improvement in preferential procurement on a year on year basis;
• Measure supplier performance and evaluations, update and keep all procurement records;
• Maintain relationships with suppliers to monitor adherence to service level agreements and manage transactional aspects of specific supplier contracts / agreements;
• Provide relevant procurement information, assess, and implement automated and streamlined actions to improve service delivery to the organisation;
• Manage procurement activities throughout the purchasing and supply chain including procurement activities resulting from CSIR client contracts and CSIR tender proposals;
• Conduct analysis on procurement spend and BBBEE per division/portfolio as and when required;
• Ensure alignment and compliance between client agreements / CSIR tender proposals and procurement activities;
• Keep up to date with market trends and new technologies in the procurement arena and react to changes in demand;
• Ensure that purchasing activities comply with relevant legislation, CSIR policies, procedures, and all applicable standards.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A National Diploma in supply chain management or equivalent qualification with at least five years’ experience in a supply chain / procurement management environment;
• Attention to detail and the ability to meet demanding deadlines;
• Good understanding of designated sector procurement;
• Working experience in managing laboratory equipment, consumables, chemicals, and other laboratory supplies tenders.
• Good understanding of public sector procurement.
• Good understanding and experience of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO);
• Problem solving, negotiation and communication skills;
• E-procurement knowledge, sourcing and buying skills;
• Thorough understanding of the business processes;
• Teamwork, flexibility, and adaptability skills;
• Self-management and assertiveness skills;
• Financial knowledge and numerical skills;
• Customer service and quality orientation.

Closing date: 26 July 2023