Sinethemba Mbelu
Procurement Specialist
Pietermaritzburg
Summary
Dependable Procurement Specialist with a background in tracking products from vendor shipments to the consumer pipeline. Analytical performer with price dispute resolution experience. Considered an enthusiastic employee with great decision making skills. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
6
6
Certifications
Work History
Procurement Specialist
Preformed Line Products
Pietermaritzburg
10.2023 - Current
- Complete and manage purchasing requests and transactions assigned to Procurement and Logistics.
- Responsible for loading of RFQs and Purchase orders- domestic and International.
- Ensuring that engineering drawings and manufacturing forms are utilized for purchasing purposes
- Lead and manage export and import logistical function.
- Responsible for conducting GRNs.
- Assist business areas to identify requirements for sales orders
- Foster competition among suppliers, leverage agreements across enterprises, manage risk and promote cost savings and reduction where possible.
- Understand company-wide needs to ensure appropriate leverage is utilized, lowest price and best value is consistently achieved.
- Maintain supportive relationships and communicate regularly with qualified, consistent and reputable supplier sources, while locating, researching and expanding supplier base.
- Negotiate pricing and business terms and, when appropriate, coordinate purchase effort with Quality and Engineering
- Responsible for ensuring that all suppliers comply - BBBEE.
- Assist with internal and external audits such as TUV and BBBEE.
- Reduce procurement costs by implementing strategic negotiation tactics with suppliers.
- Track purchase orders and follow up with vendors and carriers to support timely deliveries.
- Maintained effective and lasting vendor relationships through dynamic communication, collaboration, and intelligent questioning skills.
- Negotiate favorable contracts with vendors for long-term supply agreements, securing stable pricing and reliable product availability.
- Research and identify potential new suppliers to increase vendor base.
- Manage portfolio of diverse suppliers, ensuring timely delivery of goods and services at competitive prices.
- Implement cost-saving initiatives within procurement department that significantly reduced overhead expenses.
- Enhance accuracy of demand forecasting through data analysis, enabling better decision-making in purchasing process.
- Evaluate supplier performance and identified areas for improvement
- Optimize inventory management by implementing just-in-time purchasing strategies, reducing stock holding costs without compromising on availability
- Oversee inventory control, accounting, and supply reports.
- Perform analysis of market trends and identified optimal sources of supply to maximize cost savings.
- Evaluate internal needs and developed plans for maintaining optimal supply levels.
- Perform yearly store audits in collaboration with managers, designers, and sales associates to provide feedback.
- Make valuable contributions to planning of promotions, pricing and inventory levels, enhancing inventory flow, revenue, and profits.
- Develop and strengthen supplier relationships.
- Negotiated with vendors on freight costs, cutting shipping prices by 20%.
- Conduct market research to identify new suppliers, keeping abreast of industry trends and best practices in procurement management.
Buyer/Procurement Assistant
Preformed Line Products
Pietermaritzburg
05.2021 - 10.2023
- Provide administrative support to Procurement department
- Performed responsibility of purchasing of raw material and consumables.
- Compile weekly and monthly procurement reports including tracking of budgets
- Coordinate committee meetings and logistics arrangements.
- Loading of requisitions, and processing of purchase orders for consumables, tools and services for other departments such as Engineering, Sales, Health and Safety and Maintenance.
- Responsible for all BBBEE platforms and record keeping of supplier enterprise development.
- Estimate and establish cost parameters.
- Responsible for reviewing inventory, evaluating suppliers, products, and services
- Established and headed monitoring and evaluation system to improve supplier performance according to scorecards.
- Ensure that all payments are submitted to Finance on time; track that all suppliers have been paid, attend to stakeholder queries and provide feedback.
- Assisting with audits such as supplier development, BBBEE and TUV.
- Achieved cost savings that contributed to 30% of company's profits.
- Ensured timely delivery of products by closely monitoring vendor performance and addressing any issues promptly.
- Maintained complete documentation and records of all purchasing activities.
- Continuously monitored industry trends to identify new supply sources that could potentially improve overall procurement efficiency.
- Managed budgets effectively by tracking expenses, reviewing variances, and making adjustments as needed to stay within financial targets.
- Developed new strategies to reduce purchasing costs and maintain quality standards.
- Oversaw purchasing process from initiating requests to finalizing contracts to deliver smooth transaction.
- Collaborated with sales team to identify and satisfy customer needs.
- Assisted in evaluating and reviewing offers received from suppliers and service providers.
- Maintained accurate records of purchase orders, invoices, and inventory levels, supporting smooth business operations and effective financial management.
- Reduced purchasing costs with strategic negotiation tactics in collaboration with suppliers, resulting in significant savings for Preformed Line Products.
Social Practitioner Intern
Vhubvo Archeo-Heritage Consultants
Richards Bay
09.2019 - 10.2020
- Provide administrative support.
- Conducted research and interpret quantitative and qualitative data.
- Established and maintained stakeholder engagement/relations.
- Ensured community feedback mechanisms were well understood by internal and external stakeholders.
- Collated and presented monthly findings/reports to Project Manager.
- Performed and completed Social Impact Assessments, Heritage Impact Assessments and Archaeological Impact Assessments.
- Participated in regular field visits to project sites, meeting with project counterparts and participants to monitor quality of activities and providing verbal and written reports.
- Responsible for organizing constant consultation with Chiefs, Headsmen, Municipality and relevant departments.
- Responsible for handling all grievances and disputes pertaining project affected persons.
- Drafted memo's and recording of minutes.
- Recorded affected persons histories and provided over 20 consultations weekly.
- Contributed to quality improvement initiatives by identifying areas for improvement and proposing actionable solutions.
- Improved efficiency within practice by proactively identifying bottlenecks in workflow processes and implementing targeted improvements.
- Delivered exceptional care to diverse populations while respecting cultural differences and unique medical requirements of each affected group.
- Excelled in time management skills, enabling completion of all daily tasks while providing exceptional care to affected persons.
- Evaluated previously prescribed interventions for successes or failures and adjusted strategies.
- Improved project outcomes by conducting thorough market research that informed strategic marketing decisions.
Research Intern
African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)
Durban
04.2019 - 06.2019
- .Conducted rigorous qualitative research on conflict management across Africa.
- Planned and implemented projects undertaken by ACCORDs Preventive Action and Mediation Unit aimed to strengthen mediation support capacity and conflict management processes by conflict resolution, dialogue and development
- Implemented over 10 activities per week around donor relations, partnerships with government and civil society, country interventions and logistics coordination
- Supported functions of planning, protocol, event management, communication and record keeping.
- Collaborated with research teams to develop project plans aligned with target timescales
- Optimized research methodologies through continuous improvement efforts based on feedback from peers or supervisors.
- Collaborated with team members for successful completion of research projects on time and within budget.
- Maintained detailed records of experimental procedures, providing transparency and replicability of results upon request by supervisors or collaborators.
- Organized workshops or seminars showcasing novel techniques that benefited fellow researchers.
- Kept abreast of current industry, scientific and regulatory developments and issues.
Research Intern
ACCORD
Pietermaritzburg
02.2018 - 11.2018
- Developed comprehensive lesson plans that incorporated multiple modes of instruction, ensuring well-rounded educational experience for above 100 learners.
- Promoted critical thinking skills through engaging activities and consistent reinforcement of complex concepts.
- Conducted regular evaluations of curriculum materials, making recommendations for updates or revisions as needed to maintain relevance in today's rapidly changing world.
- Promoted critical thinking skills through engaging activities and consistent reinforcement of complex concepts.
- Collaborated with fellow tutors to develop effective strategies for addressing diverse student needs and abilities.
- Maintained detailed records of student progress, using data to inform future instruction and target areas for improvement.
- Supported students with helpful study habits and exam strategies.
- Leveraged technology and visual aids to engage students and enhance learning.
Education
Supply Chain Management - Cum Laude - Supply Chain Management
IMM Graduate School
Durban 06.2022 - 05.2023
Honours in International Relations - International Relations And Affairs
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Pietermaritzburg 02.2018 - 05.2018
BA Social Science - Politics & Sociology - Social Sciences
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Pietermaritzburg 02.2015 - 05.2017
Skills
Supply Chain Management
Transportation Management
Syspro 08
Negotiation
Conflict Resolution
Stakeholder Relationship Building
Inventory Management
Process Improvement
Communication and Organisational skills
Microsoft Office Package
Data analysis - Market Trends & Seifa Index
Price Negotiation
Exports and Import Coordination
Supplier Relationship Management
Demand forecasting
Certification
Member of Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply - CIPS (2024)
Languages
English
IsiZulu
IsiXhosa
References
- Ms Belinda Khoza, Sales Representative at Preformed Line Products, 063 245 7670, Belinda.Khoza@plp.com
- Ms. Balungile Mabele, Former Social Practitioner at Vhubvo Archeo-Heritage Consultants, 079 968 0081, Balungileshandu5@gmail.com
- Mr Kwezi Mngqibisa, Independent Researcher and Consultant, Former General Manager of Operations at African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, 065 907 2306, Sirmngqi@gmail.com
Timeline
Procurement Specialist
Preformed Line Products
10.2023 - Current
Supply Chain Management - Cum Laude - Supply Chain Management
IMM Graduate School
06.2022 - 05.2023
Buyer/Procurement Assistant
Preformed Line Products
05.2021 - 10.2023
Social Practitioner Intern
Vhubvo Archeo-Heritage Consultants
09.2019 - 10.2020
Research Intern
African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)
04.2019 - 06.2019
Research Intern
ACCORD
02.2018 - 11.2018
Honours in International Relations - International Relations And Affairs
University of KwaZulu-Natal
02.2018 - 05.2018
BA Social Science - Politics & Sociology - Social Sciences
University of KwaZulu-Natal
02.2015 - 05.2017