Buyer - Brits

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Type of work:
On site

Type of contract:
Open-ended/permanent

Full/Part Time:
Full time

Location:

Brits, ZA

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM), headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bridgestone Europe, Middle East and Africa (BSEMEA), headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, operate collectively as a “Bridgestone West” strategic region. This region services the strategic business needs of teams across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. BSAM and BSEMEA are subsidiaries of Bridgestone Corporation, globally headquartered in Japan. Bridgestone and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand products and solutions to address the needs of a broad range of customers and industries.

Job Purpose

To effectively manage the end-to-end purchasing process for stock and non-stock items by creating and processing Purchase Orders in SAP, executing competitive bidding and cost-saving initiatives, expediting supplier deliveries, and ensuring timely fulfillment of internal customer requirements while complying with negotiated contracts and Bridgestone procurement standards.

Job Overview

The Buyer is responsible for operational procurement activities that support plant operations and business continuity. This role focuses on transactional purchasing, supplier coordination, cost optimization through bid systems, and stakeholder engagement. The Buyer works closely with Sourcing Specialists, suppliers, and internal end users to ensure quality, cost, delivery, and technology objectives are met.

Key Responsibilities

• Process and manage Purchase Orders (POs) for stock and non-stock items using SAP.
• Conduct competitive bidding exercises using the approved bid system to achieve cost savings.
• Award purchase orders based on total cost of ownership (price, quality, delivery, and technology).
• Expedite orders with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery.
• Ensure internal end users receive materials and services according to required timelines.
• Support new supplier selection, evaluation, and onboarding onto SAP and procurement systems.
• Procure materials and services in line with contracts negotiated by Sourcing Specialists.
• Drive and support cost-saving and value-improvement initiatives.
• Maintain strong stakeholder relationships with internal departments and suppliers.

Main Responsibilities

• Procurement Execution
• Create, release, and manage POs in SAP in compliance with procurement policies.
• Ensure accuracy of pricing, quantities, delivery dates, and contract references.
• Communicate with suppliers to confirm orders and delivery schedules.
• Proactively follow up on overdue or at-risk deliveries and resolve supply issues.
• Cost Saving & Bid Management
• Run RFQs and tenders via the bid system.
• Perform cost analysis and benchmarking to identify savings opportunities.
• Support implementation and tracking of cost-saving initiatives.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Liaise with internal end users to clarify requirements and delivery expectations.
• Provide regular order status updates and resolve procurement-related queries.
• Assist with new supplier selection and onboarding processes.
• Ensure suppliers comply with Bridgestone standards, policies, and system requirements.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field.
• SAP (MM module) experience is essential.

Required Capabilities

• Strong understanding of procurement and purchasing processes.
• Proficiency in SAP and electronic bidding systems.
• Cost analysis and negotiation support skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management…