Junior Strategic Buyer

Company: Nestlé SA

Location: Bryanston
Qualification: Undergraduate Degree and or equivalent

Experience: 2-3 years’ experience developing and implementing sourcing strategies for assigned spend categories

Closing Date: 18 August 2026

Position Summary

With a history spanning over 150 years, Nestlé didn’t become the world’s leading food and beverages brand by chance. Perfection is at the heart of what we do, and our people are always looking for the next big idea to cement our status. We are now looking for a Junior Strategic Buyer to join our Procurement team.

The Junior Strategic Buyer will be responsible for developing, validating, communicating and implementing sourcing strategies for locally managed categories at Market level, following the Strategic Sourcing Process tools, templates and policies developed by Nestrade and applying the Nestlé Standardised Procurement Model. The role reports into the Senior Strategic Buyer and supports the efficient implementation of new or changing items/services, Procure to Pay (P2P) channel management and new suppliers.

A day in the life of a Junior Strategic Buyer:

Define and implement local sourcing strategies by:

• Developing, validating, communicating and implementing sourcing strategies for locally managed categories at NiM level.
• Using the Strategic Sourcing Process tools, templates and policies developed by Nestrade.
• Applying the Nestlé Standardised Procurement Model in day-to-day sourcing activities.
• Ensuring signed-off sourcing strategy summaries and relevant sourcing documentation are available.
• Supporting the efficient implementation of new or changing items, services and suppliers.

Analyse suppliers, categories and risks by:

• Performing supplier market analysis, category analysis and supply risk analysis.
• Developing total cost of ownership understanding for locally managed categories.
• Mapping how sourcing processes and channels work within locally managed categories.
• Identifying improvement opportunities to be targeted.
• Providing information and support for the Procurement Ensure Supply process, including prioritised material lists and risk analysis input.

Manage negotiations, compliance and supplier performance by:

• Preparing and executing negotiation events to secure best total cost of ownership contracts and beneficial commercial agreements with suppliers.
• Ensuring compliance with Nestlé business principles, policies, standards, Procurement Policy, Procurement Standardised Model, Nestlé Supplier Code and best practices.
• Integrating innovation, renovation and post-award cost improvement elements from suppliers into Nestlé innovation and renovation processes.
• Leading the planning and regular contract SLA reviews with suppliers and functional partners such as Quality, in partnership with SRM experts.
• Ensuring effective contract management follow-up activities are in place, including SAP contracts, purchasing info records and master data.

Build stakeholder relationships and support performance delivery by:

• Establishing relationships with stakeholders to integrate category plans and outcomes into local budgets and price planning processes as required.
• Supporting key stakeholder satisfaction, internal satisfaction measures, responsible sourcing targets and defined performance measures.
• Ensuring SLA review schedules are managed on time and effectively.
• Supporting risk mitigation plans and ensuring agreed actions are executed on time.

What will make you successful?

• Demonstrated success in delivering competitive advantage through the development and implementation of sourcing strategies for assigned spend categories over a sustained period of 2-3 years.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead projects.
• Demonstrated successful use of risk management, analysis, responsible sourcing and supplier relationship management.
• Experience negotiating successfully in cross-functional and cross-market teams.
• Strong understanding of the Strategic Sourcing Process, sourcing documentation, negotiation support and category dashboards.
• Ability to work with stakeholders and suppliers to support category plans, price planning, SLA reviews and performance measures.