Strategic Indirect Procurement Category Lead

Placements24; Free State; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & bonus

Medical & retirement benefits

Career development opportunities

Challenging work environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a strategic Category Manager with expertise in indirect procurement to join our purchasing team in Upington. This role focuses on managing spend across services, MRO, and operational supplies, developing category strategies and driving cost savings in a challenging market.

You will lead supplier negotiations, manage stakeholder relationships, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver value and continuous improvement in procurement processes.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of procurement experience focused on indirect categories.
• Proven ability to develop and execute category strategies and lead complex negotiations.
• Strong contract management, risk assessment and supplier relationship skills.
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking abilities.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management with senior leadership exposure.
• Tertiary qualification in Business, Supply Chain, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies for indirect spend areas.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing events, RFx processes, supplier selection, and contract negotiation.
• Manage key supplier relationships ensuring performance and compliance.
• Conduct market analysis to identify cost-reduction opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal business units to align procurement strategies.
• Monitor spend, supplier performance, and industry trends for continuous improvement.

Skills

Indirect procurement

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelors in Business / Supply Chain

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a strategic Category Manager with expertise in indirect procurement to join our purchasing team in Upington. This role focuses on managing spend across services, MRO, and operational supplies, developing category strategies and driving cost savings in a challenging market.

You will lead supplier negotiations, manage stakeholder relationships, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver value and continuous improvement in procurement processes.