Contractor - Buyer

Contract End Date - 30/04/2027The Buyer will be responsible for operational sourcing and procure to pay activities.
The position reports to the Procurement Operations Manager and is part of the Procurement team at Astron Energy which is responsible for procurement of all goods and services to support its operations in South Africa and Botswana.
The role requires the Buyer to execute RFQs and purchase orders accurately and efficiently within defined frameworks and supporting Procurement Operations with good commercial and sourcing capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Procurement and Sourcing: Prepare and issue RFQs using approved supplier lists and specifications, for low to medium complex materials and services. Perform operational sourcing through preparation of RFI/RFQ and perform the bidding process. Identify, evaluate and recommend suppliers based on cost, quality and reliability criteria.

Purchase Orders: Create Purchase Orders based on approved sourcing decisions and negotiated terms. Ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely release. Identify and escalate commercial, technical or delivery risks. Maintain accurate and thorough documentation for all transactions.

Stakeholder management: Work closely with internal teams to align purchasing activities with business needs.

Procurement Compliance: Enforce adherence to company procurement policies and procedures. Monitor processes for POs and contracts to ensure adherence to compliance standards, including monitoring any retrospective spend.

Close collaboration with:

• Expeditor to monitor open Purchase Orders and to support mitigation in relation to late or overdue orders;

• Logistics Co-Ordinator to ensure support when shipments or customs clearance is required.

Build and maintain relationships with warehousing teams to ensure alignment of future demand requirements and working capital optimization opportunities.

Supplier Relationship Management: Establish and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure continuous supply chain efficiency. Follow-up on quotes, confirmations and delivery dates. Monitor supplier performance and supplier reporting and investigate any anomalies.

Review and resolve, including necessary internal consultations, any VORs and issue VOs or Amendments.

Maintain and update operational reports and dashboards

Core Competencies:

• Create RFP/RFQ documents that set out precise specifications and clear expectations.

• Maintain accountability by monitoring and enforcing commercial and contractual terms and obligations.

• Maintain open communication with suppliers to convey expectations and maintain quality and service levels.

• Understand the relevant elements of total cost of ownership (TCO).

• Understand common supply chain risk factors.

• Raise discrepancies or risks to appropriate personnel.

• Build and maintain positive working relationships with internal stakeholders and with Procurement team colleagues and line managers.

• Understand the strategic drivers of the requirement to secure the deliverable.

Qualifications & Experience:

Educational Qualifications:

Diploma/Advanced certificate in Supply Chain management, Engineering, Business Administration or in a related field.

Work Experience:

A minimum of 3-5 years of procurement experience preferably in the petrochemical, energy or related industries.

Knowledge & Skills:

MS Office Proficiency: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Procurement systems: Good working knowledge and expertise with P2P systems preferably with knowledge of SAPS4Hana and/or Coupa.

Operational Excellence: Ability to optimize operational processes to achieve procurement efficiency and effectiveness.

Supplier Analysis, Negotiations & Selection: Proficient in analyzing, evaluating, negotiating and recommending suppliers to ensure alignment with business needs.

Supplier Relationship Management: Good skills in managing supplier relationships to drive performance, collaboration, and long-term partnerships. Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Ability to collaborate across departments and manage multiple tasks effectively under tight deadlines.