Procurement Specialist

Company Description

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 99,600 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

Job Description

Primary Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Head of Procurement, you will be responsible for developing strategic sourcing activities for the Sub-Region. Undertake commodity/category strategies, negotiating with suppliers within an agreed category to deliver managed risk and ensure the cost effective and efficient delivery of supply chain capability.
• Apply strong commercial awareness to solve complex situations deriving from challenging markets, internal requirements and senior internal stakeholder relationships.
• Contract Development and Negotiation
• Online Sourcing Projects
• Coordinate the exports and Imports of various commodities within Southern Africa.
• Improvement of compliance/contractual rate
• Supplier Selection and Commercial Negotiation
• Procurement Savings Reporting
• Relationship Management

Specific Responsibilities

• Coordinate the Procurement in Southern Africa for various categories of supplies and services.
• Develop and implement appropriate sourcing strategies for various commodities to support corporate and business unit objectives.
• Source and manage solutions in support of new production and new product development.
• Negotiate and build supplier relationships, providing alternative solutions when needed.
• Develop and maintain key industry market data to be used for strategic sourcing activities.
• Develop strategies for assigned commodities to include spend analysis, market and geographic considerations, and strategic importance.
• Help manage the strategic sourcing process, contract negotiation, contract administration, sourcing systems, supplier quality, sourcing operations, planning, administration and analysis.
• Execute online sourcing initiatives across the procurement organization in an effort to maximize value by reducing the overall costs and improving the quality of goods and services that are purchased.
• Identify, analyze, and support sourcing opportunities and the RFI/RFP processes for a variety of materials, commodities, and services.
• Assist with contract administration and activities related to the procurement of goods and services, including the management of supplier relationships.
• Implement improvement processes and systems to reduce inventory, minimize costs and maximize working capital.
• Establish Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) practices and reinforce regular benchmarking, periodic RFP's, and supplier performance metrics reporting.

Specific Authorities

• Must have strong negotiating skills with ability to create and maintain supplier relationships while working in a team environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills for a demanding and customer focused working environment.
• Possess excellent personal organization and business administration skills in accordance with modern best practice methods.
• Possess the ability to work productively, efficiently & effectively with initiative and drive under tight timescales and pressure whilst maintaining attention to detail and quality.
• Possess the willingness to learn, improve and adapt.

Key Relationships

• Procurement
• Logistics
• Finance
• Business Controllers
• Key business stakeholders
• Regional Procurement Leaders
• Global procurement

Qualifications

• Matric
• Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, Supply Chain or Business related

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of three (3) years in a procurement capacity, ex: processing quotations, tenders, proposals, setting procurement strategies, driving cost savings, improving terms and conditions, purchase orders, etc. experience with computerized purchasing system – ERP.
• Cross border requirements for exports & imports within Southern Africa
• Self-starter with excellent business/financial acumen, proficient working with cross-functional teams, including demonstrated motivation, influence, and the ability to drive change across all levels of the organization and geographical boundaries.
• Possess solid computer skills (proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Office) and experience with an ERP system (Oracle is preferred).
• Able to manage a multitude of projects simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail required as work prepared by this position is presented to executive management for use in decision making.