Senior Buyer (Farming Operations) – Contract Position

Frank Consult; Johannesburg; Remote; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agricultural consulting firm is seeking a Senior Buyer (Farming Operations) to enhance sourcing initiatives in South Africa. The role involves stakeholder engagement, supplier negotiations, and strategic procurement development. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree related to agriculture, 5–10 years of industry experience, and familiarity with procurement systems. Fluency in Afrikaans and English is required, with additional languages being advantageous.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years’ experience in the Agricultural Industry.
• Experience in grains and oilseed environment advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders.
• Lead complex supplier negotiations.
• Design and implement procurement strategies.
• Produce monthly procurement reports.
• Ensure contract compliance with regulatory standards.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Problem-solving skills

Fluent in Afrikaans and English

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Commerce, Marketing Management, Risk Management, Accounting, or Finance

Postgraduate or Master’s qualification in a relevant field

Tools

SAP/ERP procurement systems (S/4HANA MM, Ariba)

Job description

Contract Period: 1 December 2025 – 31 May 2026
Location: Work from home (Candidate must reside in North West, Free State, Gauteng, or Mpumalanga)

The Senior Buyer (Farming Operations) will play a pivotal role in driving strategic sourcing initiatives that support long-term programmes for services and goods within the Farming Operations in South Africa. The position requires strong negotiation abilities, analytical thinking, and a strategic mindset to ensure that procurement aligns with operational and financial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure procurement strategies align with business needs.
• Use deep industry knowledge to forecast market trends and assess their impact on sourcing strategies.
• Lead complex supplier negotiations, focusing on total cost of ownership (TCO), innovation, and operational flexibility.
• Design and implement procurement strategies that mitigate risks, enhance supplier performance, and promote sustainability.
• Collaborate with internal departments and legal teams to ensure contracts comply with regulatory and company standards.
• Serve as an escalation point for contractual or performance disputes, applying advanced problem‑solving and negotiation skills.
• Consolidate and analyse global procurement spend data to produce monthly procurement reports.
• Ensure compliance with all administrative and regulatory procurement requirements, particularly those related to Farming Operations.

Key Result Areas

• Achieve year‑on‑year cost efficiencies through improved quality, pricing, and process optimisation.
• Ensure high internal stakeholder satisfaction and alignment with business goals.
• Deliver consistent and accurate global procurement reporting.
• Meet or exceed savings and cost avoidance targets.
• Improve contract coverage and optimise payment terms.
• Reduce procurement cycle times to enhance operational efficiency.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Commerce, Marketing Management, Risk Management, Accounting, or Finance.
• Postgraduate or Master’s qualification in a relevant field will be advantageous.
• 5–10 years’ experience in the Agricultural Industry, with proven ability to evaluate products and suppliers to secure optimal outcomes.
• Experience in the grains and oilseed environment will be advantageous.
• Working knowledge of SAP/ERP procurement systems (S/4HANA MM, Ariba) will be beneficial.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong ability to work effectively in a cross‑functional, international corporate environment.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and customer relationship management skills.
• Fluent in both Afrikaans and English; additional European languages advantageous.
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Self‑motivated, adaptable, and solution‑oriented approach.
• Proven negotiation, planning, and organisational skills.
• Ability to persuade, influence, and deliver measurable results in dynamic environments.