Introduction:
Our client, based in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), is seeking a commercially driven Supply Chain Manager.

Job Purpose:
To lead the procurement and category management functions across the retail business by developing procurement strategies, optimising supplier relationships, driving category performance, and ensuring sustainable growth and profitability.

REQUIREMENTS
Minimum education (essential):

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Commerce, Business, or a related field

Minimum Education (Advantageous):

• MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification

Minimum applicable experience (years):

• Minimum 10 years' experience in supply chain, procurement, logistics, category management, or inventory management within an FMCG or retail environment

Required nature of experience:

• Procurement and strategic sourcing
• Supplier relationship management
• Inventory planning and optimisation
• Category management and merchandising
• Distribution operations
• Demand planning
• Commercial negotiations
• Retail supply chain management

Skills and Knowledge (essential):

• Strategic sourcing and procurement
• Advanced negotiation skills
• Category management and merchandising
• Commercial and financial acumen
• Data-driven decision making
• Supplier relationship management
• Leadership and people management
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and reporting skills

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS AND OBJECTIVES
Strategic Procurement & Supplier Management

• Develop and implement procurement strategies that support business growth and profitability
• Negotiate supplier agreements, trading terms, rebates, settlement discounts, and promotional support
• Manage and review annual supplier agreements across a diverse supplier base
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation and strategic sourcing
• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships to improve service levels, product availability, and commercial performance
• Ensure supplier compliance with contractual, quality, and service requirements
  
  

Category Management & Product Selection

• Lead category planning and product range development across multiple retail categories
• Drive strategic product selection based on customer demand, market trends, and profitability
• Develop category growth plans, pricing strategies, and promotional initiatives
• Monitor category performance, sales trends, margins, and stock turns
• Identify opportunities to improve category profitability and market share
• Analyse competitor activity and market trends to ensure a competitive product offering
  
  

Commercial & Financial Management

• Manage supplier rebate programmes and maximise rebate recovery opportunities
• Drive gross profit growth through effective pricing, negotiations, and category optimisation
• Monitor category budgets and purchasing expenditure
• Analyse sales, margin, and inventory data to support commercial decision-making
• Ensure inventory levels are optimised to minimise stock-outs and excess stock holdings
  
  

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Category Managers/Specialists and Category Clerks
• Establish clear performance objectives and accountability measures
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on customer satisfaction, profitability, and continuous improvement
• Support succession planning and talent development within the procurement team
  
  

Retail & Operational Support

• Collaborate with Marketing to deliver successful national promotions and campaigns
• Support Distribution Centre operations to ensure product availability and efficient stock flow
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across procurement and category management processes