Head of Supply Chain Management

The Career Network SA; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

The Career Network SA is seeking an experienced Supply Chain Planning Manager to own national planning, procurement and inventory optimisation across a multi-branch manufacturing and distribution business. You will lead demand forecasting, S&OP, and international sourcing while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

In this strategic role you will drive supplier negotiations, optimize stock availability, and leverage ERP and analytics to improve working capital and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

• 8+ years' experience across supply chain management, demand planning, procurement and inventory management.
• Strong practical experience in S&OP, demand forecasting and supply planning.
• Proven strategic procurement, supplier management and negotiation experience.
• Solid experience in imports, international sourcing and landed-cost management.
• Experience managing inventory across multiple branches, sites or business units.
• Strong ERP, Excel and data analytics capabilities, ideally with exposure to systems improvements or implementation.
• Commercial understanding of inventory, working capital, stock availability and business profitability.
• Relevant tertiary qualification advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead demand forecasting, supply planning and S&OP processes.
• Align procurement and inventory strategies with sales forecasts, production requirements and business growth.
• Improve forecasting accuracy and ensure optimal stock availability across the national branch network.
• Develop and implement national procurement and sourcing strategies.
• Manage supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, pricing and contracts.
• Consolidate purchasing, improve supplier performance and drive cost efficiencies.
• Manage national inventory levels, stock replenishment and inter-branch transfers.
• Optimise stock turns, minimise excess and slow-moving inventory, and reduce working capital.
• Establish effective stock parameters and inventory controls across multiple locations.
• Manage international procurement, imports and supplier relationships.
• Oversee freight, customs, landed costs and international supply chain risks.
• Monitor exchange rates, global pricing and supply disruptions.
• Leverage ERP systems, supply chain technology and data analytics to improve planning and operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities for systems enhancements, automation and process improvement.
• Develop meaningful reporting, dashboards and performance metrics to support commercial decisions.

Skills

Demand forecasting

S&OP

Supply planning

Supplier management

Negotiation

Imports

International sourcing

ERP systems

Excel

Data analytics

Education

Tertiary qualification

Tools

ERP system experience

Data analytics tools

Job description

Are you an experienced Supply Chain professional with strong expertise in Demand Planning, S&OP, Strategic Procurement, Inventory Optimisation and Imports?

Our client is seeking a commercially astute, systems-driven Supply Chain Planning Manager to take ownership of national supply chain planning, procurement and inventory optimisation across a multi-branch manufacturing and distribution business.

This is a strategic role requiring someone who understands the entire supply chain — from forecasting demand and managing international suppliers to optimising stock availability, improving working capital and leveraging technology to drive efficiencies.

Key Responsibilities

Supply Chain Planning and S&OP

• Lead demand forecasting, supply planning and S&OP processes.
• Align procurement and inventory strategies with sales forecasts, production requirements and business growth.
• Improve forecasting accuracy and ensure optimal stock availability across the national branch network.

Strategic Procurement

• Develop and implement national procurement and sourcing strategies.
• Manage supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, pricing and contracts.
• Consolidate purchasing, improve supplier performance and drive cost efficiencies.

Inventory and Stock Optimisation

• Manage national inventory levels, stock replenishment and inter-branch transfers.
• Optimise stock turns, minimise excess and slow-moving inventory, and reduce working capital.
• Establish effective stock parameters and inventory controls across multiple locations.

Imports and International Supply

• Manage international procurement, imports and supplier relationships.
• Oversee freight, customs, landed costs and international supply chain risks.
• Monitor exchange rates, global pricing and supply disruptions.

Systems, Technology and Analytics

• Leverage ERP systems, supply chain technology and data analytics to improve planning and operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities for systems enhancements, automation and process improvement.
• Develop meaningful reporting, dashboards and performance metrics to support commercial decisions.

Requirements

• Approximately 8+ years' experience across supply chain management, demand planning, procurement and inventory management.
• Strong practical experience in S&OP, demand forecasting and supply planning.
• Proven strategic procurement, supplier management and negotiation experience.
• Solid experience in imports, international sourcing and landed-cost management.
• Experience managing inventory across multiple branches, sites or business units.
• Strong ERP, Excel and data analytics capabilities, ideally with exposure to systems improvements or implementation.
• Commercial understanding of inventory, working capital, stock availability and business profitability.
• Relevant tertiary qualification advantageous.

Experience in manufacturing, steel, metals, building materials, industrial products, wholesale distribution or other stock-intensive environments would be highly advantageous.

This opportunity will suit a strategic, analytical Supply Chain professional who can connect planning, procurement, inventory and technology to deliver measurable commercial and operational improvements.