Senior Sourcing Specialist - Brits

Bridgestone EMEA; Brits; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A global tire manufacturer located in Brits, South Africa is seeking a procurement professional to manage the full sourcing lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have solid experience in strategic sourcing and contract negotiation, preferably with expertise in SAP procurement management. This permanent full-time role offers exciting growth opportunities and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Supportive onboarding experience

Training and mentorship opportunities

Corporate Social Responsibility activities

Diverse and inclusive team

Qualifications

• Strong experience in strategic sourcing, contract negotiation and supplier management.
• SAP procurement and contract management experience is essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full sourcing lifecycle including supplier strategy development.
• Lead commercial negotiations with suppliers covering pricing and service levels.
• Define, track and review supplier KPIs for performance management.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Contract negotiation

Supplier management

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in Supply Chain Management

Professional procurement qualification (CIPS or equivalent)

Tools

SAP

Job description

Position Snapshot

JobReq ID: 54749

Type of work: On site

Type of contract: Open-ended/permanent

Full/Part Time: Full time

Location: Brits, ZA

About Us

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM), headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bridgestone Europe, Middle East and Africa (BSEMEA), headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, operate collectively as a “Bridgestone West” strategic region. This region services the strategic business needs of teams across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. BSAM and BSEMEA are subsidiaries of Bridgestone Corporation, globally headquartered in Japan. Bridgestone and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand products and solutions to address the needs of a broad range of customers and industries.

About the Role

Job Purpose

You will be responsible for managing the full sourcing lifecycle, including supplier strategy development, contract negotiation and management, supplier performance management, and continuous cost improvement. This role ensures all procurement contracts are commercially sound, compliant, and accurately maintained within SAP, while driving long‑term supplier partnerships aligned with Bridgestone’s quality, cost, delivery and technology objectives.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing & Category Management
  • Develop sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives and demand forecasts.
  • Conduct market analysis, benchmarking, and total cost of ownership evaluations.
  • Identify and implement sourcing opportunities that reduce cost and supply risk.
• Contract Management & Negotiation
  • Lead commercial negotiations with suppliers covering pricing, service levels, lead times, and contractual terms.
  • Draft, review, award and manage supplier contracts and long‑term agreements.
  • Ensure contract compliance and governance throughout the contract lifecycle.
  • Maintain contract data, pricing conditions and validity periods accurately in SAP.
• Supplier Performance Management
  • Define, track and review supplier KPIs (cost, quality, delivery, service and innovation).
  • Facilitate monthly supplier KPI review meetings and follow up on corrective actions.
  • Drive supplier development plans to improve performance and competitiveness.
• Cost Saving & Value Improvement
  • Identify, validate and deliver cost‑saving initiatives through negotiations, re‑sourcing, standardisation and value engineering.
  • Track and report realised and forecasted savings in line with procurement targets.
• Supplier Vetting, Auditing & Compliance
  • Lead supplier pre‑qualification, vetting and onboarding approval processes.
  • Conduct supplier audits (quality, financial, ESG, compliance) as required.
  • Ensure suppliers comply with Bridgestone standards, policies and ethical requirements.

Qualifications & Experience Required

• Degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Engineering, Business or a related field.
• Professional procurement qualification (CIPS or equivalent) is preferred.
• Strong experience in strategic sourcing, contract negotiation and supplier management.
• SAP procurement and contract management experience is essential.

Technical Skills

• Advanced negotiation and commercial acumen.
• Strong contract management and governance skills.
• Analytical and strategic thinking with a total cost of ownership mindset.
• Ability to lead supplier performance and improvement initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Proficiency in SAP and sourcing / contract management tools.
• Risk management and compliance awareness.

Soft/Behavioral Skills

• Cost Savings Delivered
• Annual value of negotiated and implemented cost savings versus targets.
• Contract Compliance & Accuracy
• Percentage of active contracts correctly maintained and compliant in SAP.
• Supplier Performance Improvement
• Improvement in supplier KPI scores (quality, delivery, service).
• Supplier Risk & Compliance
• Percentage of suppliers successfully vetted and audited with no critical findings.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction
• Internal stakeholder feedback on sourcing effectiveness, contract support and value delivery.

What We Offer

• A supportive and engaging onboarding experience to ensure a smooth transition into our team.
• The opportunity to develop and grow, through training and regular mentorship.
• Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
• A truly global, dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Agility and work/life effectiveness and your long‑term well‑being.
• A diverse and inclusive team.

We are committed to create an even more inclusive culture that advances equity, embraces individuality and helps our increasingly diverse teammates, customers and communities thrive, by providing equal opportunities in employment. This means that all job applicants and members of staff will receive equal treatment and that we will not discriminate on grounds of gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, colour, nationality, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, religion or age.