{"id":1808075,"url":"https://alion.io/job/cfwfans-technical-buyer-procurement-sage-x3","title":"Technical Buyer – Procurement & Sage X3","company":{"id":3880322,"name":"cfwfans","domain":"cfwfans.co.za","url":"https://alion.io/company/cfwfans","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Simplify","truth_index":null},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Cape Town, South Africa"],"countries":["ZA"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":15000,"max_usd":30000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":15},"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Excel","optional":false},{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-03T19:41:25Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-03","last_verified_at":"2026-10-20T22:56:45Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":17,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":17},"description":"CFW Fans (Pty) Ltd, an SABS ISO 9001 certified company, holds a prominent market position in Southern Africa, specialising in the design, manufacture, and distribution of fans for the industrial, mining, power generation, and HVAC sectors.\nSince its founding as Continental Fan Works in 1966, CFW has built extensive expertise and knowledge, establishing itself as a trusted supplier of industrial fans to leading corporations both within South Africa and internationally.\nThe company employs a diverse workforce with a strong skill set in engineering. We are currently seeking a\nTechnical Buyer - Procurement & Sage X3 to join our team.\n\nPOSITION PURPOSE\nThe Technical Buyer is responsible for the effective procurement of technical components, raw materials, manufactured parts, services and consumables required to support the company's manufacturing and project requirements.\nThe role combines technical procurement knowledge, supplier management and ERP capability, with particular emphasis on accurate purchasing, cost control, material availability and maintaining reliable procurement information .\nThe successful candidate must be able to understand engineering drawings, specifications, BOMs and technical requirements, communicate effectively with suppliers and internal departments, and ensure that materials are purchased at the right quality, specification, price and delivery date.\nKEY RESPONSIBILITIES\nTechnical Procurement\nReview purchase requisitions, BOMs, drawings and technical specifications prior to procurement.\nSource and purchase mechanical, electrical, fabrication and general manufacturing components.\nIdentify suitable suppliers based on technical capability, quality, price, capacity and lead time.\nObtain and evaluate supplier quotations and negotiate commercial terms.\nCompare technical and commercial quotations and identify cost-saving opportunities.\nEnsure purchased materials conform to approved specifications and drawings.\nLiaise with Engineering/Drawing Office where technical clarification is required.\nSource alternatives for obsolete, unavailable or long-lead components, subject to technical approval.\nDevelop and maintain approved supplier and alternative-source options.\nSupport procurement of locally manufactured and imported components.\nSage X3 - Procurement & ERP\nCreate and maintain purchase orders within Sage X3.\nProcess purchase requisitions and convert approved requirements into purchase orders.\nMaintain accurate supplier, item, pricing and purchasing information in Sage X3.\nEnsure correct item codes, descriptions, units of measure, prices and delivery dates are captured.\nMonitor outstanding purchase orders and update expected delivery dates.\nFollow up overdue purchase orders and maintain accurate ERP delivery information.\nAssist with supplier and item master-data accuracy.\nMonitor purchasing transactions and resolve discrepancies between requisitions, purchase orders, goods receipts and supplier invoices.\nGenerate procurement reports and use Sage X3 information to support purchasing decisions.\nAssist with ERP process improvements and standardisation within the procurement function.\nSupplier Management\nDevelop and maintain professional relationships with key suppliers.\nConduct regular supplier follow-ups on pricing, lead times, quality and delivery.\nEscalate potential supply interruptions before they affect production.\nMonitor supplier performance against agreed delivery and quality requirements.\nAssist with supplier evaluations and performance reviews.\nIdentify opportunities for supplier consolidation, dual sourcing and cost reduction.\nSupport supplier negotiations and annual/periodic price reviews.\nEnsure supplier price increases are properly communicated, reviewed and approved before implementation.\nProduction & Material Availability\nWork closely with Production Planning, Stores, Engineering, Sales and Projects to ensure material availability.\nReview upcoming production requirements and identify potential procurement risks.\nPrioritise critical and long-lead materials based on production requirements.\nMonitor material shortages and provide realistic delivery dates to internal stakeholders.\nAssist with expediting critical components.\nSupport production planning by maintaining accurate supplier delivery information.\nIdentify procurement constraints that may affect manufacturing schedules.\nCost Management\nObtain competitive pricing and maintain market awareness of key commodities and components.\nConduct price comparisons and maintain procurement cost records.\nIdentify opportunities for cost reduction through alternative suppliers, materials, specifications or purchasing strategies.\nMonitor historical pricing and supplier increases within Sage X3.\nAssist with should-cost analysis and supplier price negotiations.\nEnsure purchases are made within approved budgets and delegated authority levels.\nQuality & Compliance\nEnsure purchased materials comply with required technical, quality and regulatory specifications.\nRequest and verify certificates of compliance, material certificates and other required documentation.\nAssist with supplier-related NCRs and quality issues.\nLiaise with Quality and Engineering departments on supplier non-conformances.\nAssist in recovering costs associated with supplier quality failures where applicable.\nEnsure procurement activities comply with company procedures and ISO 9001 requirements.\nINTERNAL INTERFACES\nThe Technical Buyer will work closely with:\nProcurement / Supply Chain\nEngineering / Drawing Office\nProduction\nProduction Planning\nStores / Warehouse\nQuality Assurance\nFinance\nSales & Projects\nSenior Management\nThe position requires strong communication across departments to ensure that procurement decisions support the overall manufacturing schedule and business requirements.\nMINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE\nRequired:\nGrade 12 / Matric.\nDiploma, certificate or relevant qualification in Procurement, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Mechanical Engineering or a related field.\n3-5 years' purchasing/buying experience in a manufacturing or engineering environment.\nPractical experience using Sage X3, preferably within procurement, purchasing, inventory or manufacturing.\nExperience purchasing technical or engineered products/components.\nAbility to read and understand engineering drawings, specifications and BOMs.\nExperience with supplier negotiations and quotation comparisons.\nStrong Excel and Microsoft Office skills.\nAdvantageous:\nExperience within an OEM, industrial manufacturing, fabrication or engineering environment.\nExposure to MRP/ERP-driven production environments.\nExperience with imported materials and international suppliers.\nKnowledge of electrical and mechanical components.\nUnderstanding of ISO 9001 procurement requirements.\nTechnical qualification or engineering-related experience.\nExperience with Sage X3 stock, purchasing and supplier modules.\nTECHNICAL COMPETENCIES\nThe successful candidate should demonstrate:\nSage X3\nPurchase requisitions\nPurchase orders\nSupplier management\nItem/master data\nStock availability\nDelivery-date management\nProcurement reporting\nERP data accuracy\nTechnical Procurement\nBOM interpretation\nEngineering drawings\nMaterial specifications\nComponent identification\nSupplier technical comparisons\nManufacturing processes\nRaw materials\nMechanical and electrical components\nCommercial\nSupplier quotation analysis\nPrice negotiation\nCost comparison\nLead-time analysis\nPayment terms\nCost-saving initiatives\nSupplier performance management\n KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)\nPerformance will be measured against:\nPurchase order accuracy.\nOn-time material availability.\nSupplier on-time delivery performance.\nProcurement cost savings and cost avoidance.\nSupplier price competitiveness.\nReduction in production stoppages caused by material shortages.\nPurchase order and Sage X3 data accuracy.\nPurchase order turnaround time.\nReduction in overdue purchase orders.\nSupplier quality performance.\nEffective management of critical and long-lead items.\nCompliance with procurement procedures and delegated authority.\nPERSONAL ATTRIBUTES\nThe successful candidate should be:\nCommercially aware and cost-conscious.\nTechnically minded and comfortable working with engineering information.\nHighly organised and methodical.\nDetail-oriented with strong data accuracy.\nProactive in identifying supply risks.\nConfident when negotiating with suppliers.\nAble to work under pressure without compromising accuracy.\nStrong in follow-up and task ownership.\nComfortable working across multiple departments.\nAble to distinguish between genuine production-critical requirements and routine purchasing requirements.\nA problem solver who takes ownership of procurement issues through to resolution.\nROLE EXPECTATION\nThe Technical Buyer is expected to move beyond transactional purchasing and provide procurement value-add to the business.\nThis includes actively identifying:\nCost reduction opportunities\nAlternative suppliers\nAlternative materials/components\nSupply-chain risks\nLong-lead items\nSupplier performance issues\nInventory optimisation opportunities\nProcess improvements\nERP/data improvements\nThe role should contribute to creating a procurement environment where materials are available when required, at the correct specification, quality and commercial value, while maintaining accurate and reliable information in Sage X3.\n AUTHORITY & ACCOUNTABILITY\nThe Technical Buyer is accountable for the accuracy and effectiveness of procurement activities within their delegated authority.\nPurchasing decisions must comply with:\nApproved supplier requirements\nCompany procurement procedures\nDelegated purchasing limits\nApproved budgets\nEngineering specifications\nQuality requirements\nSage X3 processes and controls\nAny technical substitution, specification change or deviation from an approved requirement must receive the appropriate internal technical approval before purchase.","description_format":"text","description_chars":9943,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Supply 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