Category Specialist/Category Buyer
Job Title/ Position: Category Specialist/Category Buyer
Reports To: Head, Category Management
Location: Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical, Lagos
Job Summary
Support the execution of category strategies by delivering sourcing events, managing supplier performace, and ensuring efficient, compliant, and value-driven procurement operations aligned with business requirements.
Act as an operational procurement partner to stakeholders, ensuring timely delivery, cost efficiency, and adherence to category strategies and contracts.
Scope of Responsibility
• Execute sourcing and procurement activities across assigned sub-categories or spend areas
• Manage supplier interactions and transactional/commercial execution
• Support contract implementation and compliance
• Ensure alignment with Category Strategy and procurement policies
Key Duties and Responsibilities
1. Category Strategy Execution & Planning Support
- Support Category Lead in executing category strategies and sourcing plans
- Conduct spend analysis, demand tracking, and basic market research
- Maintain category data, supplier lists, and sourcing pipelines
- Identify and escalate value opportunities (cost savings, demand optimization)
2. Strategic Sourcing Execution
- Execute sourcing events (RFI, RFQ, RFP) in line with category strategy
- Prepare RFx documentation, evaluation models, and commercial comparisons
- Support negotiations with suppliers (pricing, terms, delivery)
- Ensure sourcing processes are compliant, transparent, and documented
3. Supplier & Contract Management
- Manage day-to-day supplier interactions and communication
- Track supplier performance (delivery, quality, SLA adherence)
- Support supplier onboarding, qualification, and documentation
- Monitor contract compliance and flag deviations
4. Stakeholder Engagement & Support
- Act as first point of contact for operational procurement request
- Translate stakeholder needs into sourcing requirements
- Ensure timely processing of procurement requests and purchase orders
- Support demand control by challenging non-compliant or unnecessary requests
5. Risk, Compliance & Governance
- Ensure compliance with procurement policies, procedures, and approvals
- Identify and escalate supply risks (delivery delays, supplier issues, contract gaps)
- Maintain proper documentation for audit and compliance purposes
- Support supplier due diligence and governance processes
6. Performance Tracking & Reporting
- Track sourcing savings, cost avoidance, and delivery performance
- Maintain procurement dashboards and reports
- Monitor key KPIs (OTIF, cycle time, compliance, savings delivery)
- Provide regular updates to Category Lead and stakeholders
7. Demand Management & Specification Support
- Support demand planning and validation of purchase requests
- Ensure specifications align with approved standards and contracts
- Identify opportunities for standardization and consumption control
- Escalate opportunities for value engineering
8. Procurement Operations & Process Excellence
- Execute purchase orders and ensure timely order placement
- Manage end-to-end PR-to-PO process
- Maintain data accuracy in procurement systems (ERP)
- Drive process improvements (cycle time, efficiency, compliance)
9. Continuous Improvement & Capability Development
- Build knowledge of sourcing processes, supplier markets, and commercial practices
- Support digital procurement tools and analytics adoption
- Participate in process improvement and cost optimization initiatives
10. Safety, Sustainability & ESG Compliance
- Ensure suppliers comply with HSE and ESG requirements
- Support responsible sourcing and ethical procurement practices
- Monitor and report supplier compliance issues
- Perform other tasks and duties as assigned by the line manager
Education and Work Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or related field
- 3–8 years’ experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain roles
- Professional certification (CIPS, CPSM, etc.) is an advantage
- Experience supporting sourcing events and supplier management
- Familiarity with procurement systems and processes
Functional Competencies
- Sourcing Execution & RFx Management
- Basic Commercial Negotiation
- Supplier Coordination & Performance Tracking
- Contract Compliance Monitoring
- Spend Analysis & Reporting
- Procurement Process Execution
Digital Competencies
- ERP systems (SAP)
- Excel and basic data analysis
- Spend analytics tools (user level)
- E-sourcing tools
Behavioral Competencies
- Commercial awareness
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- High integrity and professionalism
