Senior Productivity Buyer (Automotive)

Staff Solutions; Akasia; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 660,000; Full time

Job summary

Staff Solutions is seeking a purchasing professional in Gauteng to contribute to productivity actions, monitor supplier performance, and drive cost reductions in a complex automotive supply chain.

The role requires a degree in Engineering or Business, 3 years in purchasing/production, English fluency, and the ability to work in a matrix organization with strong communication and negotiation skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or Business.
• Specialization in international purchasing or supply chain preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify and implement productivity actions for cost reduction with commodity teams.
• Monitor productivity performance for supplier perimeter and present plans to plants management.
• Challenge commodity buyers to meet the purchasing budget for plants.
• Support the supply chain team to improve supplier deviation in mis deliveries per million (MPM).
• Lead production startup kickoff and transfer meetings with Program Buyers.
• Lead negotiations for engineering changes and productivity with commodity teams.

Skills

Lean management

Production knowledge

Quality & logistics

English fluency

Matrix organization

Communication skills

Product knowledge

Supplier audit

Education

Engineering or Business degree

International purchasing / supply chain specialization

Job description

Duties:

• Contribute to the identification and implementation of productivity actions (product / process) for cost reduction, in close coordination with commodity teams.
• Monitor productivity performance for supplier perimeter through cross-functional teamwork in the plants under his/her responsibility. Present to the plants management board the productivity plan.
• Challenge Commodity Buyers to achieve the purchasing budget for his/her plants.
• For most critical topics, support the supply chain team to improve supplier deviation in mis deliveries per million (MPM).
• Be involved in the kickoff in program phase to prepare the start of Production. Lead transfers meetings with Program Buyers at the takeover.
• Lead negotiation for engineering change requests within his/her perimeter, and product productivity, in close relationship with commodity teams.

Minimum requirements:

Education Level

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or Business.
• Specialization in international purchasing or supply chain preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years experience in purchasing, production, quality or sales.
• Automotive experience preferred.

Skills and competencies

• Knowledge of productivity / lean management methodology
• Knowledge of production, quality and logistics
• English fluency
• Ability to work in matrix organization.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of products and technology advantageous
• Supplier audit process and quality management advantageous