Assistant Buyer

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

Our client, a well-established company in the meat industry, is looking for a detail-oriented and proactive Assistant Buyer to join their team in Pinetown. This role is ideal for someone with a keen eye for sourcing quality meat products, strong negotiation skills, and a passion for ensuring seamless procurement operations. The successful candidate will work closely with suppliers, manage stock levels, and support the senior buyer in maintaining optimal inventory to meet production demands. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and have experience in procurement or supply chain within the food industry, we’d love to hear from you!

Procurement Support:

· Assist in sourcing suppliers and obtaining quotes for goods and services.

· Conduct market research to identify cost-effective purchasing opportunities.

· Prepare purchase orders and follow up on approvals.

Supplier Management:

· Communicate with suppliers to confirm orders, negotiate delivery schedules, and resolve issues.

· Maintain accurate records of supplier contracts, pricing agreements, and correspondence.

· Monitor supplier performance and escalate concerns to the Head of Buying.

Inventory Coordination:

· Work with the inventory and facility and retail teams to ensure adequate stock levels.

· Track incoming shipments and ensure timely delivery.

· Report stock shortages or overages to the Head of Buying.

· Centralized buying and price setting.

Administrative Duties:

· Maintain procurement databases and update purchase order statuses.

· Generate reports on procurement metrics, including costs and delivery performance.

· Assist in preparing presentations or documentation for procurement meetings.

Territory and Time Management:

· Effectively manage buying territory and time to maximize productivity.

· Priorities buying activities.

· Manage Multiple clients ,suppliers and accounts simultaneously.

Customer Satisfaction and Service Quality:

· Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and service quality.

· Provide excellent customer service and follow-ups with relevant suppliers.

· Act on customer feedback with the relevant departments.

· Ensure timely and accurate order fulfillment.

Collaboration of Teamwork:

· Maintain a good relationship with internal departments to achieve business objectives.

· Maintain a good relationship with all other Service departments.

· Maintain a good relationship with all Customers/Suppliers and Stakeholders.

· Maintain effective working relationships with other staff members.

· Participate in team meeting and strategy sessions.

Training and Assistance:

· Aid and training to colleagues.

· Ensure all staff are trained as per department IDP’s and SOP’s

· Succession Planning.

Compliance and Ethical Standards:

· Adhere to all legal, regulatory and ethical standards in sales activities.

· Ensure compliance with Food safety regulations and industry standards.

· Maintain Integrity in all Sales activities and client interactions.

· Uphold the company’s reputation in the Market.

Personal Development:

· Continuously improve skills and knowledge relevant to this role.

· Participate in training sessions and industry events.

· Stay updated with best practices in customer sales Management.

· Seek feedback and coaching for performance improvements.

Safety at Facility:

· Contribute to a culture of safety.

· Adhere to all safety rules in the company and your area of work.

· Maintain Security and safety of the work environment.

Food Safety and Quality at Facility:

· Ensure that a good hygiene standard is maintained and that housekeeping practices are in place.

· Adhere to PPE requirements of the Production department in terms of Food Safety.

· Adhere to standards set out to enter and exit the Production facility.

· Adhere to all Food safety procedures as set out by company SOP’s.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

· High school diploma or equivalent (required). A diploma or degree in procurement, supply chain, or a related field is advantageous.

· 1–2 years of experience in procurement or a similar role (preferred).

· Exposure in the meat industry will be an advantage.

· Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Meat Matrix.