Raw Material Buyer

Kerry Kopp Recruitment; Pietermaritzburg; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Kerry Kopp Recruitment is seeking a Raw Material Procurement professional based in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. This role focuses on sourcing local and imported materials to align with production plans and lead times, converting requirements into purchase orders, and ensuring terms are met.

You will monitor orders and expedite shipments to avoid production interruptions. You will also manage supplier relationships, negotiate terms, assess risks, and coordinate imports and logistics to

Responsibilities

• Procure local and imported raw materials per production plans and purchasing procedures.
• Convert approved requirements into purchase orders and meet lead times.
• Verify pricing, quantities, specs, delivery dates and terms before ordering.
• Monitor open purchase orders from placement to delivery.
• Expedite critical or overdue orders to prevent production stops.
• Maintain purchasing records and documentation.
• Collaborate with Planning, Production, Stores and Quality to forecast raw material needs.
• Review material availability against demand and flag shortages in advance.
• Prioritise critical materials according to production requirements.
• Support optimal inventory levels while balancing continuity of supply with excess risk.
• Escalate potential shortages and supply disruptions before impact.
• Maintain relationships with approved local and international suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance on delivery, quality and terms.
• Follow up on outstanding orders, delays and quality issues.
• Participate in supplier reviews and corrective actions.
• Identify alternative sources for critical materials.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, MOQs, payment terms and freight.
• Conduct price comparisons and support cost-saving initiatives.
• Challenge unjustified price increases and gather supporting data.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction and better sourcing.
• Maintain current pricing information.
• Identify raw materials with production risk due to lead times or single sources.
• Maintain visibility of critical materials.
• Develop recovery actions with suppliers and stakeholders.
• Escalate significant supply risks to management.
• Support contingency sourcing and alternative suppliers.
• Coordinate imported material orders with suppliers and logistics.
• Monitor manufacturing, dispatch and delivery dates.
• Maintain visibility of long lead times.
• Follow up on required documentation for imports.
• Escalate shipping or logistics delays impacting production.

Job description

Raw Material Procurement

• Procure local and imported raw materials in accordance with production plans, material requirements, and approved purchasing procedures.
• Convert approved requirements into purchase orders and ensure orders are placed within required lead times.
• Verify pricing, quantities, specifications, delivery dates, payment terms, and other commercial conditions before order placement.
• Monitor open purchase orders from placement through to delivery.
• Expedite critical or overdue orders to prevent production interruptions.
• Maintain appropriate purchasing documentation and records.

Production & Inventory Support

• Work closely with Planning, Production, Stores, Quality, and other relevant functions to understand current and forecast raw material requirements.
• Review material availability against production demand and identify potential shortages in advance.
• Prioritise critical materials according to production requirements.
• Support appropriate inventory levels while balancing continuity of supply against excess and obsolete stock risks.
• Escalate potential material shortages and supply disruptions before they affect production.

Supplier Management

• Maintain professional relationships with approved local and international suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance in areas such as delivery, responsiveness, quality, commercial compliance, and service.
• Follow up with suppliers regarding outstanding orders, delayed deliveries, shortages, and quality-related issues.
• Participate in supplier performance reviews and corrective-action discussions where required.
• Identify alternative sources for critical raw materials where commercially and technically appropriate.

Commercial & Cost Management

• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, payment terms, freight arrangements, and other commercial conditions.
• Conduct price comparisons and support procurement cost-saving initiatives.
• Challenge unjustified supplier price increases and obtain appropriate supporting information.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, improved payment terms, consolidation, and improved sourcing arrangements.
• Maintain accurate and current pricing information.

Supply Risk Management

• Identify raw materials that present a risk to production because of long lead times, single-source arrangements, capacity constraints, logistics issues, or supplier performance.
• Maintain visibility of critical and potentially constrained materials.
• Develop recovery actions with suppliers and internal stakeholders when shortages arise.
• Escalate significant supply risks promptly to the Procurement Manager and affected stakeholders.
• Support contingency sourcing and alternative-supplier initiatives.

Imports & Logistics Coordination

• Coordinate imported raw material orders with suppliers and relevant logistics functions.
• Monitor manufacturing, dispatch, shipping, arrival, and expected delivery dates.
• Maintain visibility of long-lead-time imported materials.
• Follow up on documentation required to facilitate the movement and receipt of imported materials.
• Escalate shipping or logistics delays that could affect production.