Procurement Costing Specialist â Manager (to be based in Durban or Johannesburg)

Mint Kulca; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading logistics firm in Johannesburg is seeking a Procurement Manager with expertise in cost savings and vendor negotiation. The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of experience in procurement or supply chain and a solid track record of using advanced Excel and Power BI for reporting. Responsibilities include developing costing models, negotiating vendor contracts, and presenting procurement reports to executives. This role is crucial for driving measurable savings and ensuring efficient procurement processes.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience in procurement, supply chain, or commercial costing.
• Experience in fleet/logistics/automotive industries preferred.
• Strong track record in cost savings and spend optimisation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed costing models.
• Lead sourcing and negotiation of goods and services.
• Manage sourcing for critical operational categories.
• Develop SLAs with major suppliers.
• Implement mechanisms to track contracted value delivery.
• Partner with Finance to forecast procurement budgets.
• Prepare and present procurement performance reports.
• Support the integration of procurement data into ERP systems.
• Monitor supplier risks and compliance.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Cost savings

Vendor negotiation

Advanced Excel

Power BI proficiency

Communication skills

Education

Bachelors degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, Commerce, or Finance

Job description

THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ROLE ARE :

• A Bachelors degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, Commerce, or Finance
• A minimum of 5 years experience in procurement, supply chain, or commercial costing (experience in fleet / logistics / automotive industries preferred)
• A strong track record in cost savings, vendor negotiation, and spend optimisation with experience in creating procurement dashboards and performance reports
• Advanced Excel and reporting tool proficiency (Power BI)
• A confident presenter with excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to translate data into business insights

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE :

Cost modelling & analysis

Develop and maintain detailed costing models for vehicles, fuel, tyres, lubricants, consumables, repairs, fitments, and external services. Evaluate supplier quotes, market trends, and internal usage to ensure accurate and transparent costing across the business.

Strategic sourcing & negotiation

Lead the sourcing and negotiation of goods and services, ensuring competitive pricing, value-added terms, and timely delivery. Identify cost reduction opportunities across the Group and execute procurement strategies to realise measurable savings.

Fleet & operational procurement

Manage sourcing for critical operational categories, including bulk fuel, car wash chemicals, tracking devices, towing, batteries, glass, and third-party maintenance services.

SLA implementation & vendor allocation

Develop and enforce Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with all major suppliers. Design fair allocation models and scoring frameworks that drive performance and accountability across vendors.

Value assurance & supplier evaluation

Implement mechanisms to track whether contracted value is delivered, including quality checks, service compliance, and financial benefit analysis. Evaluate vendors on cost, quality, turnaround time, and issue resolution.

Spend control, reporting & forecasting

Partner with Finance to forecast procurement budgets, track spend performance, and provide cost-to-date and variance reporting. Create and manage procurement dashboards and regular reporting packs that give visibility into portfolio performance and savings.

Portfolio presentation & reporting to executives

Prepare and present quarterly and ad hoc procurement performance reports to leadership, including insights, supplier scorecards, risk areas, and strategic recommendations. Translate data into actionable insights that support decision-making at the executive level.

Systems integration & automation

Support the integration of procurement data into ERP and financial systems. Collaborate with internal stakeholders to streamline data flows and automate reporting wherever possible.

Risk & compliance management

Monitor supplier risks, including market price volatility, delivery reliability, and compliance with company standards. Escalate and mitigate issues before they impact operations.

Cross-functional collaboration

Work closely with Fleet, Operations, Finance, and Car Trade to ensure that procurement activity aligns with operational execution, cost targets, and business priorities.