Head of Category Management

Durban, South AfricaFull-timeSeniorOn-sitePosted 21 Oct 2026

Job Overview

International Facilities Services (IFS Africa) is hiring a Head of Category Management in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal (Careers24 reference 208251; permanent; apply before 13 November 2026). The role leads the end-to-end strategic sourcing, contract management and supplier relationship management (SRM) agenda, converting enterprise demand into competitively sourced, contractually protected and sustainably managed supplier outcomes across IFS Africa’s operating markets.

The Head owns the integrated sourcing, contracting and SRM operating model and annual delivery plan, leads high-value, high-risk and cross-market sourcing programmes from strategy through award and mobilisation, recommends sourcing strategy and supplier award, and leads commercial negotiations within delegated authority. Working with the CFO, Operations, Finance, Legal, HSSE and market leadership, the role benchmarks procurement against leading standards, embeds digital procurement workflows and builds sourcing capability in the team, with travel to sites across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the integrated sourcing, contracting and SRM operating model and annual delivery plan

• Translate business strategy, demand forecasts and spend insights into category and sourcing priorities

• Lead high-value, high-risk and cross-market sourcing programmes from strategy through award and mobilisation

• Establish contract lifecycle disciplines covering drafting, approval, obligations, renewals, variations and exit

• Build segmented SRM programmes for strategic, critical and developmental suppliers

• Drive competitive tension, specification challenge, demand management and total-cost-of-ownership decisions

• Develop group-versus-local supply strategies balancing leverage, resilience, localisation and working capital

• Chair supplier performance and value reviews and intervene on persistent underperformance

• Maintain segregation of duties, auditable sourcing records and compliance with Levels of Authority

• Lead, coach and develop the sourcing team; manage succession and performance

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Commerce, Engineering, Finance or equivalent

• Postgraduate qualification advantageous

• MCIPS/CIPS or equivalent professional designation required

• 12+ years’ progressive procurement experience, including senior leadership of strategic sourcing, contracting and supplier management

• Experience in complex multi-site or multi-country environments

• Valid Code EB driver’s licence; willingness to travel to sites across Sub-Saharan Africa

Skills & Requirements

Category ManagementStrategic SourcingSupplier Relationship ManagementContract Lifecycle ManagementCommercial NegotiationTotal Cost of OwnershipSpend AnalysisProcurement GovernanceCIPS / MCIPSDigital ProcurementStakeholder ManagementTeam Leadership