Raw Material Buyer

Kerry Kopp Consulting; Pietermaritzburg; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Kerry Kopp Consulting in Pietermaritzburg is seeking a procurement professional to manage raw material sourcing and supplier relationships to support production. The role requires coordinating ordering, expediting critical materials, and maintaining accurate records to ensure uninterrupted manufacturing processes.

The successful candidate will work closely with planning, production, stores, and quality teams to balance supply with demand and optimize costs while maintaining compliance with

Responsibilities

• 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.

Job description

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.