Sourcing Manager at Rand Refinery

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

• Interface and collaborate across various functions at Rand Refinery (i.e. Sampling & Evaluation, Finance & Treasury, Procurement & Creditors, SHEQ) in delivering on Sourcing initiatives to fulfil the sourcing needs of the Refinery and Smelter.
• Conduct and manage customer relations, sales, pricing, contracting, business development, and due diligence/ compliance activities.

DECISION MAKING

• The incumbent will operate in the guidelines and delegated authority provided by the Head: Sourcing and Business Development.

DIVERSITY OF WORK    

• The incumbent contributes to ensuring that the Sourcing Department achieves its objectives of sustainable profitable sourcing for the Smelter and Refinery.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:       

• Interact with vendors (transporters) and internal resources (e.g. logistics & vault) in finalising in-bound transport pricing and timing queries.
• Take part in managing sourcing risks and stay abreast of best practice in this regard.
• Conduct the required site visits and provide the relevant reports with market and customer insight.
• Work in cross-functional teams in developing and realising sourcing opportunities for Rand Refinery (e.g. copper slimes, mercury carbons).
• Negotiate/renegotiate contract and pricing Managing a portfolio of depositing and purchasing customer enquiries / interactions and provide appropriate information and solutions from across the organisation.
• When required conduct root cause analysis / track, trace the Order to Cash process (e.g. incorrect invoicing, pricing conditions etc.) and solve or escalate as necessary.
• ducate customers on the legalities of dealing in gold and precious metals (e.g. FIC and Precious Metals Act).
• Interact directly with customers regarding queries. Ensure that customer queries that require technical, specific production, evaluation feedback is given timeously.
• Ensure that any feedback given to customers is accurate, and sensitive information is dealt with appropriately.
• Ensure that management is proactively advised on customer’s contracts that are due for expiry in order to generate or start negotiations with customers (own the expiry diary and notify of expiry 2 months before time).
• Hold customers accountable in terms of their contractual obligations, while also ensuring Rand Refinery meets its obligations.
• Smelter and Refinery intake budgeting and forecasing.
• Cost centre budgeting.
• Compile the monthly sourcing report.
• Run each Campaign project (sale of Rand Refinery waste material) from a pricing/ contracts point of view.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• A completed matric qualification.
• A completed tertiary qualification in Metallurgical Engineering/ Extraction.
• Preference will be given to the following candidates:
• Have acquired at least 5 years of working experience within a Marketing, Trading, Sourcing, Evaluation, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Management Consulting environment and / or suitable experience in the precious metals industry.
• Understand the smelting and refining processes.
• Have in-depth Logistics, Receiving, Evaluation and Supply-chain knowledge.
• Understanding of materials handling and sampling & assaying techniques / issues
• Be familiar with legislative (e.g. FIC) and responsible sourcing requirements.
• Have an understanding of the source of Refinery and Smelter feedstocks and the drivers that determine their characteristics (e.g., ore and extractive metallurgy).

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Excel / Modelling: build and motivate Excel based technoeconomic models to unlock smelter initiatives / opportunities.
• Financial acumen: understand detailed accurate calculations, risk assessments on on-boarding of new customers.
• Customer relationship management:  be able to build trusting and honest customer relations.
• Advanced computer literacy:  SAP and Excel and PowerPoint.
• Database construction (Access, Excel Macros).
• Document and risk management systems (SAP, DMS, Barn-owl, Docfox, SharePoint).
• Market intelligence (Thompson Reuters, GFMS etc.).
• Excellent professional communication skills – must be able to engage with senior and middle management of large mining companies.
• Administrative skills: be able to propose, design, implement and execute business processes.
• Problem solving skills:  be able to identify and rectify problems quickly.
• Negotiation skills: coordinate negotiations effectively and be comfortable in dealing with clients & vendors.
• Contract management: basic understanding of contract law and the commercial structure of contracts.