Sourcing Specialist - Ingredients - Westville at RCL Foods

Job Description    

• RCL FOODS is searching for a Sourcing Specialist with a strong Commercial and Ingredients background to join our Group Services Division. This position will be based at our National Office in Westville, Durban and report to the Sourcing Manager- Ingredients
• The purpose of this role is to support the Sourcing Manager to strategically source, negotiate, manage and evaluate Group contracts within the specific category ensuring that Business needs are met, and the best value is negotiated for and received by the Group. To facilitate increased contract coverage and spend across the Group within the category through constant engagement with business line managers and the buyers and analysis of spend behaviors 

Minimum Requirements    

• Degree in commerce/finance, supply chain management or a related field
• 3-5 years’ experience within a sourcing, project management and commercial management environment
• Demonstrated knowledge of economic indicators, cost drivers and cost analysis
• Demonstrated experience in project management
• Demonstrated category knowledge
• Demonstrated success in developing and fostering relationships with suppliers while driving lower costs, superior performance, and continuous improvement, particularly within the specific category.
• Experience in third party management who be beneficial.
• Certified in COUPA CSO or similar procurement platforms would be desirable.
• Valid Code EB drivers license

Duties & Responsibilities    
Strategic Support

• Within the assigned category of spend, have responsibility for understanding the category strategy and plans, working with the Sourcing Manager to deliver category analysis, sourcing exercises and general reviews of spend.
• Develop short, mid and long-term strategies for the various sub-categories ensuring delivery at the most competitive cost.
• Partner with the Business, senior stakeholders and consumers of services to determine requirements and apply professional sourcing and category management
• methodologies such as vendor rationalization, utilizing technology and flexible solutions to enhance user experience and minimize financial impact.
• Collaborate with site-based buyers to ensure Group strategies and policies are applied locally, to assess opportunities, and to drive performance improvements.
• Proactively drive regular engagement with the Business regarding its immediate and longer-term category procurement requirements and the extent to which these are being met.

Operational Management

• Forecast likely levels of demand for services and/ or goods.
• Determine preliminary specifications, existing and potential suppliers, timing of the product and service requirements and measure which determine success vs. failure for the internal business client.
• Coordinate appropriate methods needed to distribute products and/or services in a cost effective manner.
• Ensure that the products and/or services are delivered on schedule, at the negotiated price, and meet the quality standards of the Business.
• Actively monitor the suppliers being used within P2P ensuring orders are placed with preferred suppliers and under negotiated contracts.
• Where common items are purchased across the Group or a supplier is used frequently, negotiate supply agreement to obtain best price and value for the Group.
• Source new items and suppliers based on the specifications provided by the Business by researching the supplier marketplace, and obtaining samples for testing by requesting Functions.
• Analyse information within the P2P system to identify opportunities to source alternative suppliers.
• Produce reports and present information to relevant Functions to highlight potential sourcing or saving opportunities and update the Sourcing Manager on actions where applicable.
• Produce management information on activity within the P2P system to monitor and manage the frequency, value and volume of spend over monthly periods.
• Highlight and communicate compliance issues relating to adherence to the Group procurement policies.
• Actively monitor and facilitate the update of price lists for goods and services in the catalogues within the P2P system within the assigned category of spend.
• Negotiate with the incumbent suppliers to maintain competitive prices, benchmarking costs against other suppliers where necessary.
• Review and analyze all requests for new contracts and recommend their approval to the Sourcing Manager if the supplier is financially and ethically sound and there is a valid reason for introducing a new contract.
• Coordinate monthly supplier performance reviews for key suppliers within the
• assigned category of spend compiling data and information on performance to support the reviews.
• Ensure system data is maintained and manage the effective generation and communication of procurement metrics. 
• Thorough understanding of the contract management process, i.e engage with the business to identify and define the scope of work, update the schedule of prices and payment terms, define the service levels, price escalation clauses, etc.
• Prepare contract amendments on a frequent basis.
• Address and resolve amendments to the standard legal terms and conditions, prepare
• risk assessments for limitation of liability, etc.in conjunction with Group Legal.
• Ability to hold the Supplier accountable for non-conformances/ deviation from performing the services and supply of goods as stipulated in the contract through remediation or notice of termination where relevant.

Tender/ RFQ Management

• Solicit and evaluate proposals for Group contracts.
• Manage the administrative aspects of tenders/ RFQ’s for Group contracts in the specific category.
• Prepare tenders/ RFQ’s and compile tender analysis/ evaluation schedules.
• Coordinate invitations for tender and RFQ’s to the relevant suppliers.
• Communicate tender/ RFQ outcome to the business.

Market Analysis and Forecasting

• Evaluate market conditions to develop sourcing strategies, maintain/ improve quality and influence cost controls.
• Effectively communicate with internal cross functional teams on the current and future status of products and services markets.
• Research potential and current suppliers to keep abreast of market/ procurement conditions, new technology and makes recommendations to improve supplier base and/or purchasing method.
• Forecast price trends and their impact on future activities using a forecasting tool.
• Conduct presentations about market analysis and possible growth.

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)

• Report & Evaluation of key top 25 suppliers’ performance against SLAs, their BBBEE rating and review of their financial risk
• Evaluate and ensure potential suppliers can meet the specified requirements.
• Negotiate the lowest possible cost for the products and/or services balanced against the optimum quality and schedule needs.
• Advise team members and/or management on the appropriate supplier to be used.
• Monitor Supplier performance against SLA’s.
• Maintain positive Supplier relationships.

SAP Enablement

• Work with the master data team to ensure the SAP master data related to the procurement category is accurate and up to date.
• Arrange for all new catalogues and suppliers to be promptly loaded on the SAP system.

SHEQ and Sustainability Management

• Administer all documentation relevant to category quality assurance and conformance.
• Update and maintain the approved category supplier list for the Group.
• Support internal and external audit processes and provide any necessary documentation.

KPI’s

• Drive Group Sourcing Savings via Pursuit Tracker and Coupa Tool.
• Drive Group Contract Spend
• Drive SRM Meetings and improve BBBEE Spend
• Category Spend Management
• Step change Forecasting capabilities via a forecasting Tool.