Job Description: Purchasing Manager – Steel Coil & Production
Location: South Africa Industry: Steel Manufacturing / Trading / Logistics Employment Type: Full-Time / Part Time
Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Purchasing Manager with strong expertise in steel coil procurement, production planning, and supply chain management. The role involves negotiating with local and international suppliers, managing vendor relationships, analyzing market trends, and ensuring a reliable supply of raw materials—primarily carbon steel coil and related products—at competitive prices.
The Purchasing Manager will play a critical role in balancing cost efficiency with quality assurance, while also supporting the production team in meeting client orders, delivery schedules, and compliance with international standards.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Procurement & Supplier Management
- Source, evaluate, and qualify suppliers of steel coil and related raw materials in South Africa and global markets.
- Negotiate purchase agreements, pricing structures, delivery schedules, and payment terms to optimize costs without compromising quality.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with steel mills, distributors, and trading partners.
- Monitor supplier performance, including delivery reliability, quality compliance, and after-sales support.
2. Strategic Purchasing & Cost Control
- Develop purchasing strategies that align with company goals, market demands, and production forecasts.
- Track global steel market trends, import/export regulations, and currency fluctuations to make informed purchasing decisions.
- Implement cost-reduction initiatives while ensuring material availability for uninterrupted production.
3. Production & Inventory Coordination
- Collaborate with production managers and engineers to determine material requirements based on project pipelines and client orders.
- Oversee inventory levels of steel coil, ensuring adequate stock while minimizing excess holding costs.
- Coordinate just-in-time (JIT) purchasing to improve efficiency and cash flow management.
4. Compliance & Quality Assurance
- Ensure all purchased steel coils meet technical specifications, international standards, and customer requirements.
- Work with the Quality Control department to resolve issues related to defective or substandard materials.
- Stay compliant with South African import/export laws, safety standards, and environmental regulations.
5. Reporting & Administration
- Prepare monthly purchasing reports covering pricing trends, supplier performance, and cost savings.
- Maintain accurate records of purchase orders, contracts, and supplier databases.
- Present forecasts and recommendations to senior management for budgeting and strategic planning.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or related field. Master’s degree or professional certifications like CIPS preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in purchasing or supply chain management within the steel, metals, or heavy manufacturing industry.
- Strong knowledge of carbon steel coil, rebar, and related industrial products.
- Proven track record of supplier negotiations and cost savings in large-volume procurement.
- Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar) and strong data analysis skills.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
Core Competencies:
- Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
- Deep understanding of global and African steel market trends.
- High level of analytical and problem-solving ability.
- Ability to manage complex supplier networks and logistics chains.
- Effective decision-making under pressure and within tight deadlines.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.
- Performance-based bonuses tied to cost savings and supplier efficiency.
- Opportunities for career growth in procurement and supply chain leadership.
- Health benefits, retirement contributions, and relocation support (if applicable).
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Internship
Contract length: 12 months
Pay: From R52 959,60 per month
Expected hours: 20 – 40 per week
Education:
- Bachelors (Preferred)
Willingness to travel:
- 25% (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
