Category Buyer
Job Mission
The Category Buyer will be responsible for driving strategic procurement initiatives while supporting transactional activities for one site (approximately 25–30% PR‑to‑PO processing in Oracle), the role includes category management, negotiation, contract management, and operational support for MRO, spares, services, and equipment leasing/hiring.
This position reports to the Procurement Manager and is considered a successor role for future managerial responsibilities.
Key Responsibilities
Category Procurement & Service Agreements
- Lead category procurement for all MRO items, spare parts, consumables, and service agreements, including equipment leasing/hiring.
- Conduct cost–benefit analyses to determine optimal owning vs. rental options.
- Develop category strategies aligned with operational and commercial needs.
Economic Viability & Business Decision Support
- Evaluate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and full life‑cycle costing for products and services.
- Prepare economic feasibility assessments and make recommendations to business leadership.
- Identify and drive cost‑saving opportunities, cost‑avoidance measures, and budget optimizations.
Strategic Negotiation & Sourcing
- Plan, execute, and manage sourcing events, including RFI/RFQ/RFP processes.
- Lead robust commercial and contractual negotiations to secure favorable terms.
- Utilize historical data, forecasting, and TCO analytics for informed strategic decisions.
Regulatory, Safety & Statutory Compliance
- Ensure adherence to local laws, contracting norms, safety standards, and compliance requirements.
- Integrate statutory and safety requirements into all procurement agreements.
Contract Management & Risk Mitigation
- Draft, review, and administer contracts incorporating LDs, penalties, incentives, and clearly defined KPIs.
- Identify and mitigate commercial, operational, and performance-related risks.
- Ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities, deliverables, and service levels in all contracts.
Stakeholder Collaboration
- Engage with operations, finance, engineering, and HSE teams to ensure alignment of procurement objectives.
- Support decision‑making through transparent communication and analytical insights.
Issue Resolution & Post‑Procurement Support
- Manage post‑PO issues, including disputes, reconciliations, and supplier performance concerns.
- Provide timely support to site operations and contractors to ensure seamless execution.
Vendor Management
- Identify, evaluate, onboard, and manage suppliers to ensure reliability and compliance.
- Conduct periodic vendor assessments and performance reviews.
Team Collaboration & Capability Building
- Work closely with site buyers and procurement strategy teams to improve category knowledge and performance.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
Procurement MIS & Reporting
- Track and report cost savings, cost avoidance, and category spend.
- Monitor performance of BPAs/CPAs and managed spend.
- Prepare monthly MIS reports and track delivery performance.
Qualifications
Key Competencies & Skills.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey information effectively in both English and the local language
- Expertise in strategic sourcing, category management, and complex negotiations.
- Knowledge of equipment hiring, and financial/commercial evaluation.
- Good understanding of bank guarantees, Letters of Credit, and transactional commercial instruments.
- Experience in import processes, freight forwarding, customs clearance, and logistics.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and problem‑solving capabilities.
- Working knowledge of ERP systems (Oracle preferred) and continuous improvement mindset.
- Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
Additional Information
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.