Strategic Sourcing & Contract Specialist: Logistics

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist: Logistics & Warehousing is responsible for developing and executing category sourcing strategies that deliver sustainable value across logistics, transportation, warehousing, distribution and supply chain service portfolios.  The role drives cost competitiveness, supply continuity, supplier performance, risk mitigation and innovation while supporting operational excellence, customer service and business growth objectives across AECI Mining operations. 

Working closely with Supply Chain Operations, Planning, Commercial, SHEQ, Legal, Finance and Logistics stakeholders, the incumbent acts as a trusted business partner to ensure the optimal sourcing of logistics services through effective category management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management and commercial governance.   The role is accountable for delivering measurable value through cost optimization, supplier innovation, contract coverage, supply risk mitigation, inventory optimization, localization initiatives and total cost of ownership improvements.

REQUIRED OUTPUTS: FUNCTIONAL  

Development of sourcing strategies 

• Develop strategic sourcing approaches for transportation, warehousing and logistics services to improve cost competitiveness and service reliability 

• Lead sourcing activities for logistics and freight-related categories 

• Drive end-to-end sourcing activities, including RFx processes, supplier evaluations, commercial negotiations, and supplier selection 

• Support the development and continuous refinement of logistics category strategies through market intelligence and demand insights

• Conduct ongoing spend analysis, market and supplier research to identify opportunities, risks, and alternative supply sources

• Monitor logistics market conditions and capacity constraints

• Identify alternative logistics providers and routing opportunities

• Provide input into Procurement dashboards and tracking tools

• Support procurement planning through analysis and demand forecasting of routes, transportation and logistics requirements

• Contribute to budgeting and forecasting processes through spend and cost analysis

• Proactively identify and mitigate logistics and supply chain risks 

• Ensure sourcing activities align with operational and customer service requirements 

Cost Optimization and Value Delivery 

• Conduct detailed spend analysis across managed logistics categories 

• Identify, develop, and implement cost-saving and value-creation initiatives aligned to procurement targets 

• Support the implementation of category-led initiatives, to ensure value delivery and in line with procurement targets

• Apply total cost of ownership (TCO) principles to enable optimal sourcing decisions 

• Perform freight cost modelling and market benchmarking

• Drive logistics network optimisation initiatives 

• Track and report savings delivery and realised benefits 

• Support working capital and inventory optimisation initiatives

• Drive standardisation of logistics service models and commercial structures 

Supplier relationships management 

• Build and maintain a qualified supplier base 

• Manage supplier performance across cost, safety, service delivery and responsiveness 

• Support supplier segmentation activities

• Monitor supplier performance through agreed KPIs

• Lead supplier performance reviews and corrective action initiatives

• Develop strategic relationships with key logistics providers 

• Drive supplier innovation and continuous improvement 

Stakeholder engagement and collaboration  

• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Planning, Commercial and Finance stakeholders

• Support logistics planning and transportation continuity initiatives

• Provide procurement support and commercial guidance on logistics requirements

• Support S&OP and supply chain planning processes 

• Provide data-driven logistics insights and recommendations

• Ensure alignment between sourcing decisions and operational requirements 

• Support budgeting and forecasting processes 

• Act as a trusted advisor on logistics sourcing matters

• Champion procurement improvement and digitisation initiatives

Contracts management 

• Develop and execute negotiations strategies for new and existing logistics providers to achieve optimal commercial outcomes and lowest total cost of ownership, and meet savings targets

• Lead commercial negotiations for transportation and logistics agreements

• Support the drafting, review, and management of contracts, ensuring alignment with business requirements and risk mitigation principles

• Monitor contract compliance and utilisation, identifying risks and improvement opportunities

• Ensure all procurement activities comply with internal governance frameworks and policies

• Support carrier performance governance and contract optimisation initiatives

KPIs 

• Percentage of logistics spend under contract 

• Cost savings and value delivery against targets 

• Freight cost reduction and optimisation 

• Compliance to negotiated agreements 

• Compliance to procurement policies and approved vendor lists 

• Supplier scorecard performance (quality, OTIF, cost, sustainability) 

• Transportation service reliability 

• Timely completion of sourcing initiatives 

• Successful implementation of logistics tenders 

• Logistics continuity and risk mitigation 

• Stakeholder satisfaction 

• BBBEE and supplier development impact 

• Logistics network optimisation outcomes 

• Working capital and inventory improvement contribution 

• Freight utilisation and efficiency improvements 

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIREMENTS  

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Logistics, Procurement or related discipline 

• Postgraduate qualification in Procurement, Supply Chain or Business Management advantageous 

• Professional procurement certification (for example CIPS) advantageous 

• Project Management certification (PMP, Prince2 or equivalent) Advantageous 

• Contract Management Qualification 

• Lean, Six Sigma or Continuous Improvement certification

• Minimum 8-10 years' experience in Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Category Management or Supply Chain 

• Minimum 5 years' experience within logistics, transportation, mining, explosives manufacturing, chemicals, engineering or heavy industrial environments 

• Proven experience managing logistics and transportation categories 

• Proven experience in developing and implementing category strategies 

• Demonstrated experience managing strategic logistics providers

• Experience negotiating transportation and logistics agreements

• Experience managing logistics tenders and large spend portfolios

• Experience conducting supplier performance management and governance reviews 

• Experience with ERP systems, preferably SAP 

• Experience using eProcurement platforms and sourcing tools 

• Experience working in multi-site and multi-regional business environments 

COMPETENCIES SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Strong communication, leadership and people management capability

• Strategic sourcing and category management 

• Logistics procurement management 
• Freight markets and cost drivers 
• Warehousing and distribution operations 
• Transportation regulations and dangerous goods requirements 

• High level of integrity and governance orientation
• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving ability

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