Senior Procurement Manager at takealot.com

About the job

• This is a unique opportunity to establish and lead the procurement function at takealot.com from the ground up. As the company's first Procurement Manager, you will be responsible for creating a strategic, centralized procurement capability that drives value, efficiency, and competitive advantage across the organization.
• You will build the foundation for a world-class procurement operation, developing policies, processes, and systems while establishing key supplier relationships. This role will evolve into a senior leadership position, with the successful incumbent expected to build and manage a procurement team as the function matures.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Development & Leadership

• Design and implement a comprehensive procurement strategy aligned with takealot.com's business objectives and growth plans
• Establish the procurement function's vision, mission, and operating model from scratch
• Develop short, medium, and long-term roadmaps for procurement capability development
• Build business cases for procurement initiatives and investments
• Act as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on procurement-related matters
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for procurement effectiveness

Process & Policy Development

• Create and implement procurement policies, procedures, and governance frameworks
• Develop standardized procurement processes including sourcing, contracting, supplier management, and purchase-to-pay workflows
• Establish approval hierarchies and spending authorities
• Design and implement a category management approach
• Develop procurement templates, tools, and documentation
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and corporate governance standards

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers across all categories
• Develop and execute supplier selection, evaluation, and onboarding processes
• Negotiate contracts and commercial terms to achieve optimal value
• Implement supplier performance management frameworks
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks
• Partner with internal stakeholders across all departments to understand procurement needs
• Educate and influence stakeholders on procurement best practices

Cost Management & Value Creation

• Identify and deliver significant cost savings and cost avoidance opportunities
• Conduct market analysis and benchmarking to ensure competitive pricing
• Drive value engineering and total cost of ownership (TCO) initiatives
• Optimize working capital through payment terms and inventory management
• Develop business cases for strategic sourcing initiatives
• Track and report on procurement savings and value delivered

Technology & Systems

• Select and implement appropriate procurement technology solutions (e-procurement, SRM, contract management)
• Drive digitalization of procurement processes
• Integrate procurement systems with existing ERP and financial systems
• Leverage data analytics for procurement insights and decision-making
• Champion procurement innovation and automation

Team Building & Development

• Develop a hiring plan and organizational structure for the procurement function
• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing procurement team as the function scales
• Create career development frameworks and succession plans
• Build procurement capability through training and mentoring
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and excellence
• Establish the procurement function as a trusted business partner

Minimum Required Qualification

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Commerce, or related field (Essential)
• Professional procurement qualification (CIPS, CPSM, or equivalent) - Highly Advantageous or Honors

Minimum Required Experience

• Minimum 8-10 years of progressive procurement experience, preferably in retail, e-commerce, logistics, or fast-paced consumer environments

Minimum Required Competencies

• Proven track record of building procurement functions or leading significant transformation programs
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, high-value negotiations and contracts
• Experience in strategic sourcing across multiple spend categories
• Strong stakeholder management experience at senior levels
• Experience implementing procurement systems and digital solutions
• Track record of delivering measurable cost savings and value creation