Senior Procurement Manager

THIRSTI Water; Newcastle; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A beverage manufacturing company in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, is seeking a Senior Procurement Manager to lead its procurement function. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience, with strong leadership capabilities and a deep understanding of FMCG supply chains. This role involves sourcing, negotiations, and implementing cost-saving strategies. Candidates must possess a relevant degree and be prepared to work on-site in a high-performance environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of procurement experience, with at least 3 years in a senior or strategic role.
• Deep understanding of FMCG/manufacturing supply chains.
• High attention to detail and commercial thinking.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long-term, strategic procurement roadmap.
• Oversee procurement of raw materials and services.
• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities across the supply chain.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Commerce, Engineering

CIPS certification

Tools

ERP systems (Syspro, SAP, Oracle)

Job description

Overview

We’re seeking an experienced, strategic, and commercially minded Senior Procurement Manager to lead our group procurement function based at our Newcastle facility. This is a key leadership role responsible for managing the full spectrum of procurement activities — from sourcing and supplier negotiations to cost optimisation and supply risk management — across our national operations.

You’ll work closely with the General Manager, operations, production, and finance teams to ensure that our sourcing strategies align with business growth, cost efficiency, and sustainability goals.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long-term, strategic procurement roadmap
• Oversee the procurement and inbound logistics of raw materials, packaging, indirect goods, and services
• Lead and mentor the procurement and inbound logistics team, driving continuous improvement
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, contracts, and performance metrics
• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities across the supply chain
• Collaborate with R&D, operations, and quality teams to support product innovation and compliance
• Manage procurement risk, including supply continuity, price volatility, and supplier compliance
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting, data-driven decision making, and ERP optimisation
• Stock management and optimise working capital

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Commerce, Engineering, or related field (CIPS certification advantageous)
• Minimum 8+ years of procurement experience, with at least 3 years in a senior or strategic role
• Deep understanding of FMCG/manufacturing supply chains and commodity sourcing
• Strong leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Experience working with ERP systems (e.g., Syspro, SAP, Oracle, or similar)
• High attention to detail, financial acumen, and commercial thinking
• Willingness to be based in Newcastle, KZN and work on-site in a high-performance environment