Category Buyer - Agriculture

Duties & Responsibilities Category Management • Develop and implement category procurement strategies aligned with business requirements. • Manage assigned agricultural procurement categories from sourcing through to supplier management. • Analyse market trends, pricing, supply risks, and category performance. • Identify opportunities for cost savings, efficiencies, and value creation. • Monitor category spend and ensure procurement activities remain within approved budgets. Strategic Sourcing & Procurement • Source agricultural products, materials, equipment, and services from suitable suppliers. • Identify and evaluate new suppliers and market opportunities. • Obtain and analyse quotations and negotiate pricing, terms, lead times, and service levels. • Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies and procedures. • Support tender and RFQ processes where required. Supplier Management • Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers. • Monitor supplier performance against agreed quality, pricing, delivery, and service requirements. • Resolve supplier-related issues and implement corrective actions where required. • Conduct supplier reviews and participate in supplier performance assessments. • Identify and mitigate supply-chain and supplier risks. Agriculture Industry Support • Maintain a strong understanding of agricultural products, inputs, equipment, services, and market dynamics relevant to the assigned categories. • Monitor agricultural market trends and understand their potential impact on pricing and supply. • Work closely with operational and agricultural stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure appropriate sourcing solutions. Cost & Commercial Management • Identify opportunities to reduce procurement costs without compromising quality or service. • Conduct price and market analysis. • Support annual budgeting and procurement forecasting. • Track savings and category performance. • Negotiate favourable commercial agreements with suppliers. Stakeholder Management • Build effective relationships with Finance, Operations, Agriculture, Logistics, and other internal stakeholders. • Understand business requirements and translate them into effective procurement strategies. • Provide procurement insights and recommendations to management. • Ensure stakeholders are kept informed regarding supplier, pricing, availability, and market developments. Desired Experience & Qualification • A qualification in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Business Management, Agriculture, or a related field. Experience • Minimum 8 years' experience in procurement/buying. • Proven experience as a Category Buyer, Buyer, Procurement Specialist, or similar role. • Agriculture industry experience is essential. • Experience managing suppliers and negotiating commercial agreements. • Experience with category management and strategic sourcing. • Experience managing procurement spend and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Package & Remuneration R1.2 million per annum