Head of Category Management

Head of Category Management

International Facilities Services

Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal

Permanent

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Posted 20 October 2026

• Closing Date 13 November 2026

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Job Details

Division South Africa

Business Unit Sourcing & Procurement - NR

Minimum experience Not Applicable

Company primary industry Facilities Services

Job functional area Supply Chain

Job Description

Purpose of the Role

• Lead the end-to-end strategic sourcing, contract management and supplier relationship management agenda, converting enterprise demand into competitively sourced, contractually protected and sustainably managed supplier outcomes across IFS Africa.
• The role covers group and market-facing sourcing, category strategy, contracting, supplier performance and strategic supplier relationships across operating markets.

Key Responsibilities

• 2.1. Key Accountabilities

• Own the integrated sourcing, contracting and SRM operating model and annual delivery plan.

• Translate business strategy, demand forecasts and spend insights into category and sourcing priorities.

• Lead high-value, high-risk and cross-market sourcing programmes from strategy through award and mobilisation.

• Establish contract lifecycle disciplines covering drafting, approval, obligations, renewals, variations and exit.

• Build segmented SRM programmes for strategic, critical and developmental suppliers.

• Drive competitive tension, specification challenge, demand management and total-cost-of-ownership decisions.

• Develop group-versus-local supply strategies that balance leverage, resilience, localisation and working capital.

• Chair supplier performance and value reviews for material suppliers and intervene on persistent underperformance.

• Partner with Operations, Finance, Legal, HSSE and market leadership to ensure sourcing decisions are executable.

• Build sourcing and supplier capability in the team through coaching, standards, playbooks and deal reviews.

• 2.2. Decision Rights

• Recommend sourcing strategy and supplier award.

• Lead commercial negotiations within delegated authority.

• Approve procurement deliverables within the Levels of Authority.

• Escalate material supplier, contract, compliance and continuity risks.

• 2.3. Governance & Risk

• Maintain segregation of duties, auditable sourcing records, competition integrity, conflicts-of-interest controls and compliance with Levels of Authority, contracting standards and applicable legislation.

• 2.4. World-Class Function Expectation

• Benchmark the function against leading procurement standards, institutionalise fact-based category strategies, and continuously improve value, speed, control, resilience and supplier innovation.

• 2.5. Digital & Data Expectation

• Use approved procurement technology, structured data and digital workflows as the default way of working.

• Maintain high-quality data at source and actively identify automation opportunities.

• 2.6. Key Interfaces

• CFO/Executive leadership, Operations, Finance, Legal, HSSE, Transformation, market leadership, budget owners, strategic suppliers and Group procurement.

• 2.7. Team Management

• Lead and develop staff within the context of the applicable labour legislation.

• Monitor staff performance and provide regular feedback, including informal and formal staff appraisals.

• Coach and support staff where necessary to achieve objectives.

• Manage staff administration issues, including leave, time management and interaction with the wider business.

• Manage and deliver on succession plans to enable the development of a future generation of leaders and specialists and ensure optimal turnover and retention levels are maintained.

• Champion staff training and development through the utilisation of available training opportunities or contributing to the development of new training solutions in collaboration with national training specialists.

• 2.8. Teamwork and Self-Management

• Take ownership and accountability for tasks and activities and demonstrate effective self-management in terms of planning and prioritising, and self-development.

• Follow through to ensure that quality and productivity standards of work are consistently and accurately maintained.

• Inform relevant parties in the event of tasks or deadlines not met, the potential risks thereof and provide appropriate resolution.

• Support and drive the business core values.

• Manage colleagues and client’s expectations and communicate appropriately.

• Demonstrate willingness to help others and “go the extra mile” to meet team targets and objectives.

• Champion training and development of self and others through utilisation of available training opportunities.

• Participate in and drive regular performance appraisals and ensure that own targets and goals are clear and achievable.

• Qualification and Experience

• Relevant bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Commerce, Engineering, Finance or equivalent.

• Postgraduate qualification advantageous.

• MCIPS/CIPS or an equivalent professional designation required.

• 12+ years’ progressive procurement experience, including senior leadership of strategic sourcing, contracting and supplier management in complex multi-site or multi-country environments.

• Valid Code EB drivers' licence

• Willingness to travel to the sites across Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Preference will be given to internal applicants and appointments that support the achievement of our Employment Equity and Affirmative Action goals

• Apply