Lead Buyer

Job Advert Summary

In support of IMSAf’s ongoing efforts to enhance organisational performance and provide employee development opportunities, the company is pleased to invite applications for Lead Buyer in the Procurement and Logistics Department.

The incumbent of this role will negotiate and coordinate local and direct supplier component contracts for new part sourcing or price adjustments considering quality, service, technology and price, to support production and aftersales requirements.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum of a three-year commercial diploma in Procurement
• A Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Technology Degree would be advantageous
• At least five years’ experience working in the manufacturing sector, preferably the automotive industry.
• At least five years’ experience in a commercial purchasing related environment.
• Valid Driver's License
• Computer Literacy (MS Office, SAP)

• Commodity experience focused on component input costs
• Knowledge of component supplier's capability and processes
• Component specific and vehicle system technical knowledge and expertise
• Knowledge of supplier alternatives in industry and range of local products
• Familiarity with purchasing processes
• Automotive Production and Development Incentive (APDP), Automotive Investment Scheme and Broard Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) knowledge
• Strong written skills for drafting contracts and agreements
• Ability to negotiate disputes and commercial agreements
• Interpersonal Saviness
• Business Acumen

• Ability to work overtime as required
• Ability to travel locally and internationally
• Flexibility to changes in work content

Duties and Responsibilities

• New part / program sourcing
  • Identify Capex/Opex requirements and target costs for upfront business case purposes.
  • Facilitate Key Commodity Key Stakeholders Meetings to kick off sourcing activities.
  • Develop component level sourcing strategies.
  • Support development of the Statement of Requirements
  • Detailed quote analysis considering and challenging all variables.
  • Contract parts and vendor tooling with supplementary agreements as required.
  • Manage sourcing timeline to key program milestones
  • Lead the Product Development Sourcing Team through the process.

• Negotiate and mitigate supplier commercial threats
  • Act as a focal point to addressing any supplier contractual or commerial matters.
  • Meet and discuss potential pricing impacts to ensure supplier alignment.
  • Ensure requirements are within contractual obligations.
  • Negotiate price adjustments with suppliers with the aim of mitigating/reducing the value or deferring the implementation date of the price threat.
  • Validate price increase requests to ensure accuracy of cost driver assumptions.

• Material Cost Optimization (MCO) and Continuous Improvement
  • Lead Product Development Team to drive waste elimination and cost reduction initiatives.
  • Facilitate waste elimination workshops at supplier locations.
  • Use Purchasing tools such as cost driver analysis, value chain mapping, etc. to identify cost saving opportunities.
  • Implement cost saving opportunities and track performance to targets.

• Negotiate and coordinate development of local components
  • Facilitate Commodity Key Stakeholder Meetings with all applicable stakeholders.
  • Identify Capex/Opex requirements up front.
  • Lead the sourcing strategy decision
  • Support engineering by negotiating the best cost with suppliers
  • Contract parts and vendor tooling with supplementary agreements as required.

• Material performance reporting
  • Support the development of the direct material budget for the forthcoming calendar year
  • Provide inputs into the material performance forecast by calculating anticipated price increase threats and cost saving opportunities.
  • Manage material performance and supplier pricing adjustments to budget and forecast.