General Manager – Mining Industry (French speaking)

Contact person for this position:

amori@joblinkplacement.co.za

Location: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Reporting line: Executive Vice President

Our client a well-established company in the Mining / Oil & Gas industry, is seeking to appoint a highly skilled and experienced South African candidate to join their team. The ideal candidate must have a solid background in the Mining /Oil & Gas sector and be fluent in French (both verbal and written), as this is essential for effective communication in the role. The successful candidate must have an established professional network, ideally across South Africa and African regions.

Main mission:

The General Manager is responsible for business development and the management and optimization of purchases on behalf of the various members or clients of the purchasing center. He/She is in charge of developing the client portfolio and supervising the strategic and operational activities of the purchasing center, negotiating with suppliers, managing relationships with partners, and implementing procurement strategies to ensure the competitiveness and profitability of purchases.

Responsibilities:

Business development & strategic management

• Detection and prospecting of new clients B2B or B2C depending on the context with expansion into the dynamic sectors of the country (construction, mining, hydrocarbons)
• Qualification of incoming leads and implementation of a follow-up strategy
• Commercial negotiation and closing deals
• Development and monitoring of a client portfolio
• Competitive monitoring and market analysis
• Developing and implementing the company’s short, medium, and long-term strategy in collaboration with the Group
• Definition of the commercial strategy with the Group
• Representation of the company at events (trade shows, conferences, etc.).

Procurement strategy

Develop and implement the purchasing strategy based on the needs of the central members and the financial goals of the organization

• Analyse the market and trends to define best practices and possible optimizations for purchasing
• Ensure continuous monitoring of new products, technologies, and trends in the relevant purchasing sectors.

Management of suppliers & Purchasing team

• Identify, select, and negotiate with suppliers, ensuring long-term partnerships are established.
• Negotiate purchase conditions (price, deadlines, warranties) to optimize costs and quality.
• Manage supply contracts, ensuring compliance with terms and conditions.
• Lead, coach, and motivate the purchasing team and procurement managers.
• Ensure continuous training and skill development for the team.
• Set performance objectives and regularly assess results.

Process & cost optimization

• Implement effective processes and tools to optimize purchasing, reduce costs, and improve delivery times.
• Monitor and analyse supplier performance to identify areas for improvement.
• Ensure inventory management and supply procurement follow-up in collaboration with logistics teams.

Budget management and reporting

• Develop and manage the purchasing center’s budget
• Provide regular reporting to the Group and internal stakeholders on purchasing results and cost savings achieved.
• Analyse budget variances and propose corrective actions.

Monitoring of Compliance and Standards

• Ensure compliance with regulations and quality, safety, and environmental standards in the purchasing processes.
• Ensure that purchases comply with legal and ethical requirements, particularly regarding CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) that may be required by the clients.

Graduation & experience required

• Basic +5 (Master’s) in Business School of Management, Purchasing, Supply Chain or in a related field.
• Proven experience of at least 10 years in the field of purchasing, with at least 5 years of experience in a management position in a purchasing center or a similar function.
• In-depth knowledge of sourcing processes, negotiation, contract management, and supplier relationship management.

Skills

• Strong skills in business development, financial, and strategic management.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and negotiate, particularly in key sectors of the country such as hydrocarbons and mining
• Strong negotiation skills and supplier relationship management.
• Analytical and data management capabilities to optimize purchasing and reduce costs.
• Leadership, team management, and ability to work collaboratively with other departments.
• Bilingual in French and English required.

Soft skills

• Strategic vision and ability to make complex decisions.
• Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Initiative, proactivity, and independence.

Conditions :

• Compensation: based on profile + 20% annual bonus based on target letter
• Benefits: company car and driver, house allowance, 1 flight ticket per year
• Health insurance CMK
• Location: Kinshasa, DRC
• Travels: around 30%

Area:  Kinshasa – Democratic Republic of the Congo

Position:  Permanent