Raw Material Buyer

SUMMARY:

RAW MATERIALS BUYER - MANUFACTURING
Minimum Requirement
- Diploma or Degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Commerce, or a related discipline.
- Relevant CIPS or other recognised procurement qualification would be advantageous.
Experience
- Experience in purchasing/procurement within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience procuring raw materials, chemicals, industrial consumables, or production-related materials would be advantageous.
- Experience dealing with local and international suppliers.
- Exposure to ERP/MRP purchasing and materials-planning environments.

POSITION INFO:
1. Raw Material Procurement
- Procure local and imported raw materials in accordance with production plans, material requirements, and approved purchasing procedures.
- Convert approved requirements into purchase orders and ensure orders are placed within required lead times.
- Verify pricing, quantities, specifications, delivery dates, payment terms, and other commercial conditions before order placement.
- Monitor open purchase orders from placement through to delivery.
- Expedite critical or overdue orders to prevent production interruptions.
- Maintain appropriate purchasing documentation and records. 2. Production & Inventory Support
- Work closely with Planning, Production, Stores, Quality, and other relevant functions to understand current and forecast raw material requirements.
- Review material availability against production demand and identify potential shortages in advance.
- Prioritise critical materials according to production requirements.
- Support appropriate inventory levels while balancing continuity of supply against excess and obsolete stock risks.
- Escalate potential material shortages and supply disruptions before they affect production.
3. Supplier Management
- Maintain professional relationships with approved local and international suppliers.
- Monitor supplier performance in areas such as delivery, responsiveness, quality, commercial compliance, and service.
- Follow up with suppliers regarding outstanding orders, delayed deliveries, shortages, and quality-related issues.
- Participate in supplier performance reviews and corrective-action discussions where required.
- Identify alternative sources for critical raw materials where commercially and technically appropriate.
4. Commercial & Cost Management
- Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, payment terms, freight arrangements, and other commercial conditions.
- Conduct price comparisons and support procurement cost-saving initiatives.
- Challenge unjustified supplier price increases and obtain appropriate supporting information.
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction, improved payment terms, consolidation, and improved sourcing arrangements.
- Maintain accurate and current pricing information.
5. Supply Risk Management
- Identify raw materials that present a risk to production because of long lead times, single-source arrangements, capacity constraints, logistics issues, or supplier performance.
- Maintain visibility of critical and potentially constrained materials.
- Develop recovery actions with suppliers and internal stakeholders when shortages arise.
- Escalate significant supply risks promptly to the Procurement Manager and affected stakeholders.
- Support contingency sourcing and alternative-supplier initiatives.
6. Imports & Logistics Coordination
- Coordinate imported raw material orders with suppliers and relevant logistics functions.
- Monitor manufacturing, dispatch, shipping, arrival, and expected delivery dates.
- Maintain visibility of long-lead-time imported materials.
- Follow up on documentation required to facilitate the movement and receipt of imported materials.
- Escalate shipping or logistics delays that could affect production.