Khethiwe Pearl Thusi
Senior Project Coordinator
Hillcrest
Summary
Pearl is a seasoned Senior Project Coordinator with ten years of expertise organizing projects into laser-focused tasks. with a focus on sustainability and waste diversion from landfills - Pearl runs and implement cleaner production projects at the CSIR. She is also an MCOM candidate and conducting her research on Extended Producer Responsibility principles in the R-CTFL sector. Pearl has had the privilege to work at Davinscot, a clothing full line manufacturing firm where she acquired all round experience on garment manufacturing processes.
Practical experience in the sourcing materials, design and manufacturing of women's clothing from her plus-size company. Pearl is a versatile, forward-thinking, and all-around level headed, passionate and people centered leader.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
Senior Project Coordinator
National Cleaner Production Center South Africa, Agency of the CSIR
Glenwood, South Africa
05.2011 - Current
- Provide inputs into NCPC-SA business strategies (on team-building sessions, etc.) so that project objectives are properly aligned with the mandate of the DTI and the Industrial Policy Action Plan 2 (IPAP), as well as the Green Economy Strategy and the New Growth Plan.
- To adhere to the CSIR policies, standards, and corporate governance procedures through e-procurement, legal, and HR requirements.
- Prepare according to work plans, budgets applicable to the waste program, and manage to ensure that the financial expectations of the program are maintained and adhered to.
- To ensure that the Industrial Symbiosis programme functions effectively to deliver against its short, medium, and long-term strategic objectives and targets as defined by the mandate of the NCPC-SA business plan.
- To ensure that companies and interns are recruited by the CSIR in order to meet targets and realize the impact of the program.
- Manage NCPC-SA technical services providers at the project intervention level, and ensure that client expectations are met through detailed, impactful, and thorough Quick Scan and IPA Reports, and create an environment whereby the services of the consultant can be used in the future.
- Monitor expenses and other general administrative work as needed.
- Compile monthly, quarterly reports, as well as the final program update at the end of the financial year.
- Capture purchase orders and receipting of invoices on CSIR’s e-Procurement system.
- Assist in the recruitment of companies by developing and transforming initial contacts into company leads.
- Organize inception meetings with business contacts to disseminate NCPC-SA service offerings to industries in the key sectors for RECP, and IEE.
Company Owner and Designer
Pearls for EL- Fashion Brand
Durban, South Africa (Remote)
09.2008 - Current
- After hours, Pearl is involved in the sourcing and buying of materials for CMT of boutique ladies' wear, of a SMME business that dealt with the manufacturing and supply of boutique clothing. The company had various customers, from individuals to the municipalities in KZN. Pearl was responsible for:
- Sourcing new customers.
- Quotations and costing of merchandise.
- Business advertising, promotion, and branding.
- Signing of the order confirmation.
- Arranging and approving the artwork of the products.
- Ensuring that the logistics of the order run smoothly.
- Payments to suppliers and customers.
- Conducted regular performance reviews, identifying areas for improvement and developing action plans to address them.
Clothing merchandiser and new product development manager
Fairway Clothing
Tongaat
06.2007 - 09.2008
- Sourcing and purchasing of raw materials.
- Presentations of ranges.
- Visiting suppliers and negotiating orders.
- Costing and quotations of products.
- Sample development and pattern construction.
- Monitoring sales, monthly targets, and reacting to the patterns.
- Worked closely with marketing team to develop targeted campaigns for key clothing lines.
Merchandise planner / allocator
Mr Price Group- Head Office
Durban, South Africa
02.2006 - 06.2007
- Planning sales targets for different seasons.
- Allocating merchandise to 180 stores.
- Planning promotions for certain items at different periods, e.g., Mother’s Day.
- Reacting to sales trends, and finding ways to boost sales.
- Placing orders with suppliers.
- Traveling and sourcing new ideas (merchandise that could work for the target market).
- Ensured adherence to company policies on sustainability sourcing throughout the entire supply chain by working closely with vendors on ethical and responsible procurement practices.
- Utilized advanced analytics tools for more accurate demand forecasting and inventory optimization.
- Increased sales by strategically planning and managing merchandise assortments.
- Optimized inventory management for reduced stockouts and improved customer satisfaction.
- Streamlined processes for increased efficiency in merchandise allocation and replenishment.
- Identified risks and established opportunities to drive growth and increase profit through effective inventory management.
Education
Mancosa - Post Graduate Dip in Project Management, NQF8
Durban, South Africa05-2025
Wits Business School- Accelerated Managerial Leadership NQF7
Johannesburg, South Africa 04.2001 -
Durban University of Technology -Clothing Management NQF6
Durban, South Africa 04.1999 - 12.2003
Matric (Exemption) -
Mlokothwa High School
Skills
- General Office Packages
- MS Office (Advanced Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Financial monitoring
- Proficient in time management
- Alignment with organizational goals
- Analyzing reporting needs
- Data gathering
- Project scope management
- Project coordination
- Technical report writing
Related Experience
- Participated as an Intern in a pilot Studentship programme of the NCPS-SA (September 2010 – February 2011)
- Duties:
- Addressing critical gaps and heightening awareness around environmental policies and practices within Davinscot Holdings (project undertaken in Davinscot Verulam)
- Induce a commitment to improve environmental performance around utility usage, raw material utilization, and waste minimization.
- Identify production processes that could operate more efficiently with Cleaner Production improvements.
- Identify areas where capacity building initiatives could be implemented for identified workers to continue the Cleaner implementation process
- Submit a Cleaner Production Report with recommendations to management on a bi-monthly basis.
- Conduct bi-monthly presentations of progress to management of Davinscot Holdings over the period of six months.
- Disseminate results and best practices of Cleaner Production activities and improvements generated from the Davinscot Cleaner Production project.
- Assist in the implementation of cleaner production option.
- Monitor and track progress of implementation against baseline.
Timeline
Senior Project Coordinator
National Cleaner Production Center South Africa, Agency of the CSIR
05.2011 - Current
Company Owner and Designer
Pearls for EL- Fashion Brand
09.2008 - Current
Clothing merchandiser and new product development manager
Fairway Clothing
06.2007 - 09.2008
Merchandise planner / allocator
Mr Price Group- Head Office
02.2006 - 06.2007
Wits Business School- Accelerated Managerial Leadership NQF7
04.2001 -
Durban University of Technology -Clothing Management NQF6
04.1999 - 12.2003
Mancosa - Post Graduate Dip in Project Management, NQF8
Matric (Exemption) -
Mlokothwa High School