Procurement Specialist

About the role

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is seeking a Procurement Specialist to join its Supply Chain Management portfolio in Pretoria. The role focuses on day‑to‑day operational procurement activities, supporting the organisation’s mission to accelerate socio‑economic prosperity through scientific research.

Key responsibilities

• Source goods and services and manage existing supplier relationships.
• Document and assess internal stakeholders’ business and sourcing objectives.
• Collect macro‑ and micro‑level market intelligence and analyse spend data.
• Determine commodity values and report to management.
• Source suppliers that meet CSIR procurement criteria and ensure B‑BBEE compliance.
• Manage procurement transactions to reduce purchase‑order cycle times and track supplier performance.
• Identify and implement process automation to improve service delivery.
• Expedite orders, monitor quality, on‑time delivery and savings.
• Respond promptly to user inquiries related to orders and deliveries.
• Ensure compliance with CSIR policies, procedures and IT standards.
• Maintain fair, transparent, cost‑effective purchasing practices.
• Build strategic, ethical relationships with internal clients and suppliers.
• Create cost‑saving opportunities through bulk buying, contract management and economies of scale.
• Provide accurate and timely management reporting.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent three‑year purchasing qualification.
• At least five years of procurement experience, preferably in professional services, ICT and construction projects.
• Experience working with internal stakeholders to define sourcing objectives.
• Knowledge of B‑BBEE policy and compliance requirements.

Required skills

• Procurement processes and best practices.
• Spend analysis and market intelligence gathering.
• Supplier performance monitoring.
• Process automation concepts.