Strong practical and technical knowledge of agricultural chemicals, fertilizer and seed; preferably at least 5 years of relevant experience;
Experience in product categories, suppliers, pricing, seasonal demand planning and inventory management;
Experience with central purchasing, supplier agreements and stock supply to an agricultural retail branch network will be a strong advantage;
Ability to interpret product specifications, labels, registration status, application requirements and technical product documentation;
Relevant agricultural qualification, knowledge of applicable legislation and registration requirements (including Act 36 of 1947), AS400 and relevant industry bodies will be advantageous.
Skills:
Strong organisational, communication and problem-solving abilities;
Accuracy, accountability and the ability to perform under operational and seasonal pressure;
Service-oriented mindset and good cooperation with internal stakeholders.
Responsibilities:
Manage the daily product range, assortment and product data for crop protection, fertilizer and seed in line with the category manager's strategy;
Plan and place purchases for branches and relevant central stock points based on seasonal demand, minimum/maximum levels and lead times;
Obtain and compare quotations, confirm delivery times and follow up on orders with suppliers;
Maintain and review costs, selling prices, product specifications, registration information and supplier data in conjunction with administration;
Coordinate new product lines, phase-outs, product training and promotional information, taking applicable product and safety requirements into account;
Support branches and marketers with product selection, technical enquiries, seasonal planning and customer quotations;
Coordinate supplier claims, returns and credit notes with the Purchasing Assistant;
Submit weekly exception reports and monthly performance reports to the Purchasing Manager.