Procurement Manager - Agriculture

Enablesa (Pty) Ltd; Pietermaritzburg; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Enablesa (Pty) Ltd is seeking an experienced Procurement Manager - Agriculture to join its Pietermaritzburg team. You will lead a national 12-month procurement programme aligned with forecast sales, map supply by region and develop new grower networks.

You will negotiate pricing, volumes and procurement terms, manage supply transitions across regions, and monitor supplier performance with QA and operations to ensure year-round supply.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in fresh produce procurement, sourcing, fruit trading, agricultural supply chain management, or related commercial role.
• Minimum 5 years' experience managing grower, packhouse and supplier relationships within the fruit industry.
• Demonstrated experience procuring citrus, deciduous fruit, subtropical fruit, table grapes or other fresh produce commodities.
• Proven experience negotiating commercial agreements, pricing structures, supply programmes and procurement contracts.
• Experience with crop forecasts, seasonal planning, demand forecasting and supply chain optimization.
• Previous experience leading and managing procurement teams.
• Sound understanding of South African fruit production regions, seasons, packhouses and export markets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a 12-month national procurement programme aligned with forecast sales demand.
• Map fruit supply by region, grower, packhouse, variety and season, and identify future supply gaps.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with strategic growers and packhouses through regular farm and packhouse visits.
• Gain detailed understanding of crops, harvest timing, varieties, sizes, quality and market conditions.
• Identify and develop new growers, packhouses and supply regions.
• Lead commercial negotiations relating to fruit pricing, volumes, supply programmes, packing and procurement terms.
• Manage transitions between SA's growing regions and develop import programmes to maintain year-round supply.
• Build a diversified supplier base to reduce reliance on individual growers, packhouses or regions.
• Monitor supplier performance across quality, reliability, pricing and volume commitments with QA and operations.

Skills

Procurement experience

Grower relations

Supplier management

Negotiation

Forecasting

Supply chain optimization

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree

National Diploma

Supply Chain

Job description

Job Description

Our client is seeking an experienced Procurement Manager - Agriculture, to join their Pietermaritzburg team,

• Develop and maintain a 12-month national procurement programme aligned with forecast sales demand
  
• Map fruit supply by region, grower, packhouse, variety and season, and proactively identify future supply gaps
  
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with strategic growers and packhouses through regular farm and packhouse visits
  
• Develop a detailed understanding of expected crops, harvest timing, varieties, sizes, quality and market conditions
  
• Identify and develop new growers, packhouses and supply regions
  
• Lead commercial negotiations relating to fruit pricing, volumes, supply programmes, packing and procurement terms
  
• Manage the transition between South Africa's different growing regions and develop appropriate import programmes where required to maintain year-round supply
  
• Build a diversified supplier base that reduces reliance on individual growers, packhouses or production regions
  
• Monitor supplier performance across quality, reliability, pricing and volume commitments, working closely with Quality Assurance and Operations
  

Requirements

• Grade 12
  
• Bachelor's Degree or National Diploma in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Logistics, Business Management, or a related field
  
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel extensively throughout South Africa.
  
• Minimum 5 years' experience in fresh produce procurement, sourcing, fruit trading, agricultural supply chain management, or a related commercial role
  
• Minimum 5 years' experience managing grower, packhouse and supplier relationships within the fruit industry
  
• Demonstrated experience procuring citrus, deciduous fruit, subtropical fruit, table grapes, or other fresh produce commodities
  
• Proven experience negotiating commercial agreements, pricing structures, supply programmes and procurement contracts
  
• Experience working with crop forecasts, seasonal planning, demand forecasting and supply chain optimisation
  
• Previous experience leading and managing procurement teams
  
• Sound understanding of South African fruit production regions, growing seasons, packhouses and export markets
  

Requirements
Grade 12 Bachelor's Degree or National Diploma in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Logistics, Business Management, or a related field Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel extensively throughout South Africa. Minimum 5 years' experience in fresh produce procurement, sourcing, fruit trading, agricultural supply chain management, or a related commercial role Minimum 5 years' experience managing grower, packhouse and supplier relationships within the fruit industry Demonstrated experience procuring citrus, deciduous fruit, subtropical fruit, table grapes, or other fresh produce commodities Proven experience negotiating commercial agreements, pricing structures, supply programmes and procurement contracts Experience working with crop forecasts, seasonal planning, demand forecasting and supply chain optimisation Previous experience leading and managing procurement teams Sound understanding of South African fruit production regions, growing seasons, packhouses and export markets