Senior Manager: National Procurement

We’re Hiring: Senior Manager: National Procurement

Lesaka Merchant is looking for a Senior Manager: National Procurement to join our Merchant Operations Division. This role is ideal for a highly experienced procurement professional who can lead national procurement operations, optimise supplier performance, drive cost efficiencies, and build a procurement function that supports a rapidly growing fintech business.

Job purpose

To deliver strategic, best-in-class national procurement solutions to the Merchant Operations Division, ensuring compliance, operational efficiency, supplier performance, and cost effectiveness through innovative procurement practices, standardised processes, and data-driven decision-making that support scalable growth and exceptional customer experiences.

Key Responsibility Areas

Procurement Strategy and Value Enablement Delivered

• Develop and implement a procurement strategy aligned to the Merchant Operations Division's product catalogue, customer experience objectives, operational requirements, and growth ambitions.
• Understand local and international supply markets and adjust procurement strategies to support evolving business and customer requirements.
• Develop procurement category strategies, supplier segmentation frameworks, and sourcing approaches that maximise value while managing risk.
• Drive enterprise supplier development initiatives and BBBEE participation while maintaining strong procurement governance.
• Embed data-driven decision-making, cost management, and performance measurement across procurement activities.

Managed Procurement and Receipt of Quality Assured Equipment, Goods, Services and Consumables

• Lead procurement activities across equipment, devices, products, consumables, services, and operational requirements.
• Ensure procurement activities are aligned with category management strategies and inventory requirements.
• Oversee quality assurance processes to ensure all procured goods and services meet required standards.
• Monitor inventory alignment with demand forecasts and operational requirements.
• Drive improvements in procurement turnaround times, service delivery, and operational responsiveness.
• Support automation and integration of procurement systems to improve efficiency and scalability.

Compliance and SLA Performance Enabled

• Ensure procurement operations support operational service levels and customer experience objectives.
• Maintain awareness of developments in technology, devices, equipment, and supplier markets to ensure procurement strategies remain relevant and competitive.
• Monitor supplier performance and proactively manage risks that may impact operational performance.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, legislative requirements, BBBEE frameworks, and governance standards.
• Drive proactive supplier risk management and business continuity planning.

Efficient Dispatch and Order Fulfilment Enabled

• Provide oversight to ensure the accuracy and completeness of dispatched orders.
• Monitor dispatch performance, turnaround times, inventory utilisation, and fulfilment effectiveness.
• Drive standardisation of dispatch processes and documentation.
• Ensure seamless alignment between procurement, warehousing, dispatch, and operational functions.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to improve customer delivery experiences.

Process, Systems and Business Rules Optimisation

• Identify procurement processes, systems, and business rules that impact operational efficiency and customer experience.
• Design and implement process improvements that drive effectiveness, scalability, and cost optimisation.
• Develop and maintain procurement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across procurement, inventory management, and supplier management processes.
• Support digital transformation and automation initiatives across procurement operations.

Stakeholder Management and Alignment

• Collaborate across business functions to understand product, equipment, stock, and operational procurement requirements.
• Build and maintain strategic supplier partnerships that drive value and improve service delivery.
• Partner with Sales, Customer Care, Field Services, Warehousing, Fleet Management, Technology, and Supply Chain teams to align procurement activities to business needs.
• Participate in stakeholder engagements regarding service levels, supplier performance, and procurement priorities.
• Ensure effective communication, collaboration, and expectation management across stakeholders.

People Leadership, Capability and Team Performance Enabled

• Lead and develop a high-performing National Procurement team.
• Ensure appropriate organisational capability, workforce planning, and succession planning.
• Manage team performance, accountability, productivity, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and leadership to team members.
• Drive a customer-focused, values-driven, and performance-oriented culture.
• Support talent retention, employee engagement, and capability development initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Matric is Mandatory.
• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 8–12 years' experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Management, or Procurement Leadership roles.
• Experience within banking, fintech, financial services, technology, or similarly fast-paced environments.
• Strong understanding of procurement operations, supplier management, sourcing strategies, inventory management, and service delivery.
• Proven experience leading procurement teams and engaging effectively with senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to drive procurement transformation, operational efficiency, and commercial value creation.
• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) certification is advantageous

Knowledge Requirements

Products

• Operational products and equipment
• Supplier and service delivery models
• Inventory and stock management principles

Systems

• Procurement and sourcing systems
• ERP platforms
• Inventory and warehouse management systems
• Supplier and contract management systems

Processes

• Strategic sourcing and procurement management
• Inventory and warehouse management
• Supplier relationship management
• Contract management
• Procurement governance and compliance
• ️ Compliance Requirements
• Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
• Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act
• Procurement and Supply Chain Regulations
• Supplier Governance Frameworks
• Internal Procurement Policies and Standards

Ready to lead a strategic procurement function, optimise supplier performance, and enable scalable growth through world-class procurement solutions at Lesaka Merchant?

Apply now or share this opportunity with a colleague who would be a great fit.

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