Procurement Specialist

Our client’s Centre is a hub for technological advancement and innovative solutions. The Procurement Specialist forms part of the Business Services Procurement delivery model, supporting our client’s UK Procurement team. The team operates within the Finance function in the Business Solutions line of service and supports sourcing, contracting, due diligence, risk management, supplier onboarding, contract administration and Source to Pay operations.

Role Overview

The Procurement Specialist supports the management of third-party suppliers through negotiation and execution of contracts, relevant due diligence and risk-related activity, contract management, and administrative requirements. The role also provides an opportunity to participate in sourcing events as part of the broader sourcing agenda. The role will operate in line with established processes and procedures under the guidance of UK-based Managers and Senior Managers.

Job Type: Full Time/Permanent

Location: Johannesburg

Workplace: Onsite

Requirements

• Diploma or Degree in Procurement and Purchasing Management or Supply Chain Management or Accounting or Finance
• MCIPS qualified, equivalent, or partially qualified.
• Technology literate, including a working understanding of AI fundamentals.
• Procurement and sourcing experience, including contract review and negotiation.
• Experience working with established procurement frameworks, processes and guidance.
• Experience managing multiple activities in parallel and prioritising effectively.
• Strong relationships, negotiation, customer and stakeholder management experience.
• Ability to identify and address risk management issues.
• Experience in a corporate, offshore or shared services delivery model is advantageous.

Role related attributes

• Detail-focused with a strong sense of ownership.
• Collaborative team player
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Business acumen and the ability to operate within a professional procurement function.
• Agile, proactive and able to escalate appropriately.
• Intellectual agility and ability to provide innovative solutions to complex challenges.
• Ability to lead self and influence others

Responsibilities

Procurement delivery

• Manage intake requests for procurement contractual and sourcing support.
• Manage, negotiate and execute third party supplier contracts.
• Support Source to Pay best practice, including purchase order adoption and effective supplier onboarding.
• Manage contract administration, contract expiry reviews and contract record housekeeping.
• Conduct appropriate third party due diligence and ensure risk management procedures are followed.
• Support sourcing activity, where applicable, to help deliver service quality and commercial value.

Stakeholder and team support

• Act as a trusted business advisor to relevant stakeholders.
• Act as procurement point of contact for assigned commodity areas, contracts and suppliers.

Escalate issues where judgement or senior input is required.

• Work closely with UK-based colleagues to progress contracts efficiently and transparently.
• Coordinate inputs from the business, subject matter experts and relevant tools.
• Provide reliable workflow updates and support reporting requirements.

Quality, consistency and continuous improvement

• Ensure contract reviews, negotiations and completions meet quality, completeness and timeliness standards.
• Support maintenance of SOPs and knowledge materials.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and capability building across the team.
• Escalate concerns, issues and process inefficiencies promptly.
• Desirable skill sets include
• Experience working with Source to Pay tools, ideally Coupa and workflow platforms.
• Experience working in a corporate environment.
• Exposure to technology risk, data protection, information security or third-party risk management.
• Experience working within an offshore or shared services delivery model.
• Ability to work with various stakeholder groups
• Experience of problem solving (rather than focused on executing a process)

Mental & Environmental Demands

• Special work requirements: Role operates in a distributed onshore/offshore delivery model and requires alignment to UK business hours.
• Business change accountability: Supports procurement process consistency, sourcing activity, risk management adherence and continuous improvement of SOPs and knowledge materials.
• Finance/Resource accountability: Supports commercial value, contract lifecycle management, purchase order adoption, supplier onboarding and effective record keeping.

Communication and Interaction required

• Staff in own area (manager, subordinates, colleagues), Regular interaction with UK Procurement Managers, Senior Managers, category teams and our client’s colleagues
• Staff outside own area: Coordinates inputs from business requestors, subject matter experts and related teams.
• Internal Firm Services (SA Firm): Works with our cliennt / Business Services operations and support teams where required
• Territory Stakeholders: Direct support to UK-based colleagues and stakeholders.
• Internal Firm Services (SA Firm): Professional written and verbal communication required for service coordination and workflow updates.
• Territory Stakeholders: Clear communication with UK stakeholders on priorities, status, risks and escalations.