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.

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.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.