Johannesburg: Senior Buyer (Farming Operations) – Contract Position

Contract Period: 1 December 2025 – 31 May 2026 Location: Work from home (Candidate must reside in North West, Free State, Gauteng, or Mpumalanga) The Senior Buyer (Farming Operations) will play a pivotal role in driving strategic sourcing initiatives that support long-term programmes for services and goods within the Farming Operations in South Africa. The position requires strong negotiation abilities, analytical thinking, and a strategic mindset to ensure that procurement aligns with operational and financial objectives. Key Responsibilities • Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure procurement strategies align with business needs. • Use deep industry knowledge to forecast market trends and assess their impact on sourcing strategies. • Lead complex supplier negotiations, focusing on total cost of ownership (TCO), innovation, and operational flexibility. • Design and implement procurement strategies that mitigate risks, enhance supplier performance, and promote sustainability. • Collaborate with internal departments and legal teams to ensure contracts comply with regulatory and company standards. • Serve as an escalation point for contractual or performance disputes, applying advanced problem-solving and negotiation skills. • Consolidate and analyse global procurement spend data to produce monthly procurement reports. • Ensure compliance with all administrative and regulatory procurement requirements, particularly those related to Farming Operations. Key Result Areas • Achieve year-on-year cost efficiencies through improved quality, pricing, and process optimisation. • Ensure high internal stakeholder satisfaction and alignment with business goals. • Deliver consistent and accurate global procurement reporting. • Meet or exceed savings and cost avoidance targets. • Improve contract coverage and optimise payment terms. • Reduce procurement cycle times to enhance operational efficiency. Education and Experience • Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Commerce, Marketing Management, Risk Management, Accounting, or Finance. • Postgraduate or Master’s qualification in a relevant field will be advantageous. • 5–10 years’ experience in the Agricultural Industry, with proven ability to evaluate products and suppliers to secure optimal outcomes. • Experience in the grains and oilseed environment will be advantageous. • Working knowledge of SAP/ERP procurement systems (S/4HANA MM, Ariba) will be beneficial. Skills and Competencies • Strong ability to work effectively in a cross-functional, international corporate environment. • Excellent stakeholder engagement and customer relationship management skills. • Fluent in both Afrikaans and English; additional European languages advantageous. • Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills. • Self-motivated, adaptable, and solution-oriented approach. • Proven negotiation, planning, and organisational skills. • Ability to persuade, influence, and deliver measurable results in dynamic environments.