Purchasing Lead

Placements24; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health insurance

Fully remote work arrangement

Pension scheme participation

Generous paid annual leave

Company-provided remote work equipment

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa is seeking a Purchasing Lead to manage procurement operations from Pretoria, Gauteng, with fully remote flexibility across SA. The role involves supplier selection, negotiations, and contract management to support rapid expansion.

Requirements include 5+ years in purchasing or supply chain with leadership exposure, strong negotiation skills, and proficiency with ERP and procurement tools. Remote work is supported while occasional meetings may be required in SA.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain roles with leadership experience.
• Experience negotiating contracts and managing supplier relationships effectively.
• Strong procurement best-practices knowledge, especially tech procurement.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily purchasing operations, orders, expediting, and tracking.
• Develop and refine purchasing policies and procedures for efficiency and compliance.
• Identify, evaluate and onboard new suppliers meeting quality standards.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and conditions for favorable cost savings.
• Manage supplier performance and relationships to ensure service delivery.
• Collaborate with IT, Engineering, and Finance to understand procurement needs.

Skills

Procurement

Negotiation

Supplier management

Leadership

Communication

Remote work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Procurement software

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a fast-growing technology firm, is seeking an experienced Purchasing Lead to manage its procurement operations from Pretoria, Gauteng. This role is pivotal in establishing and optimizing purchasing processes, ensuring the timely acquisition of technology hardware, software, and services while maintaining cost-efficiency and quality. The Purchasing Lead will be responsible for supplier selection, negotiation, and contract management, playing a key role in supporting the company's rapid expansion. This is a fully remote position, offering unparalleled flexibility and the opportunity to work from anywhere within South Africa. Our client is committed to building a distributed team and fostering a culture of trust and autonomy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the daily purchasing operations, including order placement, expediting, and tracking.
• Develop and refine purchasing policies and procedures to enhance efficiency and compliance.
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers, ensuring they meet quality and reliability standards.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and conditions with suppliers to achieve cost savings and favorable agreements.
• Manage supplier performance and maintain strong relationships to ensure optimal service delivery.
• Collaborate with internal teams (IT, Engineering, Finance) to understand procurement needs and timelines.
• Oversee inventory management strategies for procured goods, ensuring adequate stock levels.
• Analyze purchasing data to identify trends, cost-saving opportunities, and process improvements.
• Ensure all procurement activities comply with company policies and industry regulations.
• Contribute to budget planning and cost control initiatives for procurement.

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain roles, with at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory capacity.
• Proven experience in negotiating contracts and managing supplier relationships effectively.
• Strong understanding of procurement best practices, especially in technology-related procurement.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with procurement software, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work independently and manage workload effectively in a remote setting.
• A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field is preferred.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Self-motivated and able to thrive in a fully remote work environment.
• Must be based in South Africa for potential occasional meetings, although the role is fully remote.

Benefits

• A competitive annual salary of ZAR.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering exceptional flexibility.
• Comprehensive health insurance benefits.
• Generous paid annual leave.
• Opportunities for professional development and upskilling.
• Company-provided equipment for remote work.
• Pension scheme participation.
• Performance-based incentives.
• A collaborative and innovative virtual work culture.
• Direct impact on a rapidly growing technology company's success.