Category Lead

Aspen Pharma Group; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 700 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company in South Africa is seeking an experienced individual to manage supplier relationships, optimize budgets, and ensure compliance with procurement standards. Key responsibilities include supplier audits, risk management, and coordinating vendor contracts. Candidates should have a strong background in supplier negotiations and procurement processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier development and negotiations for major suppliers.
• Monitor quality standards and conduct supplier audits.
• Manage supplier communications and process flow including RFIs, RFPs, RFQs.
• Set up new vendors and coordinate contract support.
• Identify new suppliers and review insourcing/outsourcing opportunities.

Job description

Job purpose

• Lead supplier development, supplier negotiations, RFQs, and CMO category strategy for major suppliers.
• Identification of continuous improvement opportunities.

Responsibilities

Supplier management

• Monitor quality standards and identify performance failures.
• Conduct supplier audits and report on supplier performance.
• Manage supplier communications and documents and process flow, including RFIs, RFP, RFQ, and RFB’s.
• Resolve supplier issues; maintain working relationships with key suppliers.
• Set up new vendors and coordinate with legal to support new contracts; maintain / update existing contracts.
• Identify new suppliers and products in the marketplace.
• Vet potential suppliers’ capabilities (delivery, quality, services).
• Review insourcing and outsourcing opportunities.
• Negotiate with suppliers to carry stock for fast moving items.
• Assist in the drafting of specifications as required and provide advice and guidance to customers on procurement processes.
• Review and approve price variances (Order vs Invoice Prices).
• BBBEE and procurement administration.

Risk Management

• Maintain and report on adherence to internal and external compliance requirements.
• Actively reduce third-party risk exposure.
• Carry out risk management processes within CMO category.

Report & record keeping

• Maintain repository of procurement-related knowledge.
• Maintain complete, compliant documentation of purchasing activities.
• Maintain standards and update SOPs for documentation and filing requirements.

Budgeting

• Manage and optimize use of Category budget.
• Provide input into required changes in resources to enable achievement of objectives.
• Monitor, track and report on expenditure against budget.

Planning & coordination

• Optimize processes, identify gaps in policies, procedures and legislation, and propose changes or improvements to management.
• Provide technical advice to internal stakeholders.