Senior Procurement Specialist - Supply Chain (55718) at Ntice Sourcing Solutions

Job Purpose:

• To manage and execute procurement activities related to engineering materials, equipment, and services for South Africa in a cost-effective manner and compliance with procurement policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

Demand Determination

• Establish and maintain sound, collaborative relationships with stakeholders, including line managers
• Collaborate with relevant functional and technical teams to gather detailed information on required equipment, goods, and services, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of business and technical needs
• Adhere to and implement Group and Regional Procurement policies
• Ensure alignment with technical specifications and project requirements
• Identify and implement cost-saving initiatives while optimizing the total cost of ownership for the organization
• Ensure all procurement activities are compliant with relevant legal, environmental, and regulatory requirements
• Monitor market trends, technological advancements, and industry best practices to ensure the organization remains at the forefront of engineering procurement, continuously

Supplier Research, Identification and Registration on Vendor Database

• Conduct thorough research to identify and assess potential suppliers for required equipment, goods, or services
• Evaluate suppliers' capabilities to meet business specifications, volumes, and delivery schedules
• Assess shortlisted suppliers and identify the most suitable candidates based on cost, quality, and delivery performance
• Request quotes and negotiate procurement terms, considering budget constraints and delivery schedules
• Prepare proposals for the business on selected suppliers, incorporating feedback from stakeholders and executing corrective actions until supplier approval or rejection is achieved
• Create and manage sourcing events on the SAP Ariba platform, analyse results, and finalize the award process
• Ensure all suppliers who will work on-site undergo appropriate vetting by the Environmental, Health, and Safety team, with mandatory Safety Files in place
• On-board successful vendors on the appropriate portal, namely Ariba and Outsmart
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to formulate and/or review service level agreements (SLAs) and contracts
• Resolve issues in the invoice workflow by providing support and following up as necessary

Contract Management

• Lead negotiation efforts with suppliers to secure favourable terms, prices, and delivery schedules that align with business objectives
• Source goods through the cloud-based Ariba Platform, ensuring procurement is streamlined and efficient
• Draft and review contracts, ensuring they meet company policies, business needs, and risk mitigation strategies
• Resolve any discrepancies in specification and application, and escalate issues as needed to relevant stakeholders
• Monitor inventory levels to ensure alignment with business needs and initiate purchase orders when discrepancies arise
• Evaluate supplier performance regularly, as part of the Supplier Lifecycle Management and Performance (SLP) process, to ensure reliability and continued quality of service
• Build and nurture sound, long-term relationships with suppliers to drive sustainable procurement efficiencies and ensure high-quality service
• Oversee the contract lifecycle, ensuring compliance with terms and timely renewals or amendments as needed
• Address procurement risks related to supply chain disruptions, price volatility, and supplier performance issues to minimize impact on operations proactively

Procurement Planning and Budgeting

• Formulate and/or review procedures, processes, and best practices in order to improve business efficiency and effectiveness for further approval
• Develop and implement sustainable procurement strategies for key materials, securing approval from senior stakeholders
• Monitor procurement spend on engineering, repairs, and maintenance goods and services against budget, and manage it to ensure adherence to financial constraints and optimizing spend
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify risks and develop mitigation plans, including sourcing alternative suppliers when necessary
• Identify and implement opportunities for cost reduction without compromising quality or performance
• Track expenditures and report regularly on procurement activities, highlighting cost savings and efficiency improvements
• Collaborate with the engineering team to identify opportunities for process optimization, material standardization, and cost-effective solutions

Reporting, Filing and Administratio

• Provide regular, accurate reports on procurement activities in line with internal and external stakeholders' requirements
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of procurement transactions, contracts, and communications and ensure they are filed and accessible to relevant stakeholders

People Management

• Fill vacancy/ies with employees who meet knowledge and skills requirements for positions
• Train and/or schedule training of employees and/or other team members in order to ensure that they are suitably qualified and are declared competent
• Manage the performance and discipline of employees in a way that ensures productivity and compliance with legal and statutory requirements and internationally accepted environmental, health, safety and quality standards
• Manage time and attendance and ensure timeous system updates
• Communicate information and changes that affect employees clearly and timeously
• Address problems and explore opportunities timeously
• Facilitate and resolve conflicting issues or requirements
• Ensure compliance with prevailing policies and procedures

QUALIFYING ATTRIBUTES:

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, preferably mechanical or chemical engineering
• Qualification in Procurement is an added advantage

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years' overall purchasing and Engineering experience in a similar role within Food FMCG industry or similar
• Working experience in sourcing and procuring engineering equipment and servicesfor multiple engineering fields from diverse suppliers and operating equipment manufacturers (OEM's)
• Working experience in spearheading projects or supplier transition with large matrix collaboration across the organization
• Working experience in the implementation of end-to-end procurement strategies and processes
• SAP and Ariba is preferrable

Knowledge

• Sound understanding of business processes, requirements and value chain
• Supply chain procedures
• Purchasing strategies
• Vendor sourcing practices (researching, evaluating, negotiating)
• Logistics (Road freight, sea freight, air freight, courier door to door, incoterms) understanding
• Procurement compliance (RFI, RFP, RFQ, tendering, vendor approval, contracting, monitoring)
• Strong technical foundation with a comprehensive understanding of engineering principles, terminology, blueprints, and industry standards

Skills

• Proficiency in MS Office, SAP and Ariba platform
• Research skills
• Project Management
• Negotiation and influencing
• Numerical & Financial acumen
• Contract design and contractor management
• Problem solving, Data analysis & integration
• Relationship building and networking
• Emotional and social intelligence
• People management
• Stakeholder orientation and engagement
• Collaboration
• Emotional and social intelligence
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Planning and organizing
• Time management and speedy execution
• People management

On Offer:

• Range of between R 520 000,00 - R 866 700,00 Total Cost to company per Annum (Dependent on various factors including current earnings)
• Total cost To Company is inclusive of a 13th Cheque
• Benefits include: Medical aid, Pension and Provident Fund, Disability, Group Life, Funeral Cover and Car Insurance

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Safety medical checks will be conducted
• Criminal checks will be conducted
• Credit checks will be conducted
• School and Tertiary Qualifications verifications will be conducted
• References will be required