Supply Chain Lead

1. Role Purpose

The Supply Chain Lead is accountable for ensuring uninterrupted availability of materials, spares, reagents, and logistics services to support safe and reliable operation of the mining concentrator. The role ensures zero production losses due to material shortages, optimised working capital without increasing operational risk, strategic sourcing of critical plant categories, effective shutdown material readiness, and regulatory-compliant concentrate export logistics aligned with the Asset Management Plan.

2. Key Accountabilities

2.1 Strategic Procurement & Category Management

• Develop sourcing strategies aligned to plant criticality and operational risk.
• Manage contracts for grinding media, mill liners, crusher wear parts, flotation reagents, slurry pump spares, gearboxes, fuel, and other critical categories.
• Conduct technical bid evaluations with Engineering and Process teams.
• Negotiate long-term agreements for critical plant components.
• Ensure compliance with BBBEE and ethical sourcing standards.

2.2 Critical Spares & Rotables Governance

• Develop critical spares lists aligned to asset criticality rankings.
• Align safety stock levels to Mean Time Between Failures and supplier lead times.
• Implement rotables strategies for pumps, motors, gearboxes, and high-value components.
• Model stock-out risk impact on plant availability.

2.3 Shutdown & Major Maintenance Support

• Ensure 100 percent material readiness prior to planned shutdowns.
• Coordinate long-lead component forecasting aligned to the shutdown calendar.
• Participate in shutdown risk reviews and supplier coordination.
• Secure vendor technical support for critical interventions.

2.4 Warehouse & Inventory Optimisation

• Ensure high inventory accuracy through structured cycle counting.
• Drive working capital optimisation without increasing downtime risk.
• Ensure correct storage and preservation of hazardous and high-value materials.
• Maintain compliance with hazardous material storage standards.

2.5 Logistics & Concentrate Export Governance

• Manage inbound logistics for bulk reagents and consumables.
• Coordinate outbound logistics for zinc concentrate dispatch.
• Ensure weighbridge governance, dispatch accuracy, and transport compliance.
• Mitigate transport disruption risks.

2.6 Systems & Data Governance

• Ensure Enterprise Resource Planning data integrity (SAP, Pronto, Oracle or equivalent).
• Maintain accurate Bills of Materials aligned to engineering master data.
• Track key performance indicators including On Time In Full delivery performance, inventory turns, procurement cycle time, and emergency purchase ratio.
• Drive digitalisation initiatives within procurement and warehouse functions.

2.7 Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure procurement compliance with company policies and mining regulations.
• Mitigate supplier concentration and long-lead exposure risks.
• Implement anti-fraud controls and ethical procurement practices.
• Ensure compliance with Mine Health and Safety Act requirements for hazardous materials storage.

2.8 Leadership & Cross-Functional Alignment

• Collaborate closely with Plant Engineer, Process Lead, HSE Lead, and Maintenance Planning teams.
• Participate in weekly production and shutdown planning meetings.
• Provide forward visibility of material risk exposure.
• Mentor procurement and warehouse teams.

3. Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Degree or Diploma in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, or related discipline.
• Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply certification preferred.
• Engineering or Mining qualification advantageous.

Experience

• 8–12 years in mining supply chain roles.
• Experience supporting mineral processing operations and shutdown environments.
• Strong experience with Enterprise Resource Planning systems (SAP preferred).

4. Performance Indicators

• Zero production losses due to stockouts.
• On Time In Full delivery performance above defined benchmark.
• Inventory accuracy and inventory turns improvement.
• Reduction in emergency procurement and supply disruptions.
• Shutdown material readiness compliance.
• Working capital optimisation targets achieved.