Buyer

About the role:
Join Shoprite as a Buyer TRPH, specialising in pharmaceutical and healthcare product procurement, where your expertise in demand analysis, supplier evaluation, and cost optimisation will drive strategic buying decisions within a dynamic wholesale and distribution environment. Leveraging advanced category management, inventory coordination, and supplier performance analysis skills, you will proactively manage supply risks, resolve stock challenges, and enhance service levels across a diverse product portfolio. This mid-level role offers the opportunity to collaborate cross-functionally with operations, finance, and customer-facing teams, ensuring compliant procurement practices and reliable supply chain execution. Embrace a career at a leading retail group known for innovation, market leadership, and commitment to professional development within a fast-paced, growth-oriented setting.

What you'll do:
Analyse product availability, pricing trends, supplier engagement, and category insights to ensure competitiveness within the pharmaceutical wholesale sector. Evaluate and categorise the product portfolio to recommend appropriate range coverage aligned with customer demand, branch requirements, supplier capabilities, and the company's commercial strategy. Monitor cost and selling prices to optimise margins, affordability, competitiveness, and service delivery across the product range. Support supplier negotiations by analysing pricing data, validating assumptions, and proposing commercially viable pricing strategies. Review promotional lines and pricing structures to facilitate effective advertising campaigns and promotional activities. Investigate and resolve stock level issues across branches and distribution centres by monitoring price movements, supplier lead times, shortages, and demand fluctuations. Analyse product gaps and market trends to recommend profitable sourcing decisions and support supply continuity. Collaborate with suppliers, inventory, distribution, and operations teams to enhance the end-to-end supply chain process and maintain optimal product flow and service levels. Recommend practical merchandising layouts that align with consumer purchasing patterns and operational needs.

What you bring:
Degree or Diploma in Business, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field (essential). Minimum of 5 years' experience in buying, procurement, or sourcing roles within pharmaceutical, healthcare, wholesale, distribution, or commercial trading environments (essential). Proven expertise in sourcing and supplier management, including experience with complex vendor and supplier negotiations (essential). Strong understanding of supply chain principles, processes, and systems (essential). Comprehensive knowledge of factors influencing product cost and pricing strategies (essential). Demonstrated commercial acumen with an understanding of financial trade-offs in category sales (essential). Familiarity with the pharmaceutical wholesale value chain, distribution environments, and profitability drivers (essential). Advanced proficiency in MS Office 365, with high-level skills in Microsoft Excel (essential). Exceptional analytical and numerical skills, capable of interpreting complex data to support informed buying decisions. Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.