Detailed Career Description

Donford Approved Repair Centre - Parts Buyer

Main Purpose of the Role: 

The Parts Buyer is primarily responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing the necessary parts for vehicle repairs and maintenance. This involves tasks like identifying parts needs, finding reliable suppliers, negotiating prices, ensuring timely delivery, and maintaining accurate records. He/She also needs to manage inventory, control costs, and maintain relationships with vendors

In essence, the Parts Buyer plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of a panel shop by effectively managing the procurement of necessary parts.

Key Responsibilities: 

1.    Identifying Parts Needs

• Reviewing repair orders and job cards
• Analyzing work orders to understand the specific parts required for each job.
• Assessing vehicle damage
• Evaluating vehicles to determine the extent of damage and the parts needed for repair.
• Forecasting parts requirements
• Predicting future parts needs based on repair schedules and historical data.

2. Sourcing and Purchasing:

• Finding qualified suppliers: Identifying reputable suppliers who can provide the required parts at competitive prices.
• Requesting quotations: Obtaining quotes from multiple suppliers to compare prices and availability.
• Negotiating prices and terms: Working with suppliers to secure the best possible prices and delivery terms.
• Placing orders: Creating and submitting purchase orders for the required parts at competitive prices
• Tracking orders: Monitoring the status of orders and ensuring timely delivery

3. Managing Inventory:

• Maintaining accurate records: Keeping detailed records of parts received, issued, and on hand.
• Managing returns: Handling the return of defective or incorrect parts to suppliers

4. Cost Control and Budget Management:

• Staying within budget: Managing purchasing costs to stay within the allocated budget for parts.
• Negotiating discounts: Seeking discounts and cost-saving opportunities with suppliers
• Analyzing costs: Evaluating the costs of parts and identifying areas for potential cost reduction.

5. Vendor Management:

• Building relationships with suppliers: Maintaining positive relationships with key
• Evaluating supplier performance: Assessing the quality, reliability, and responsiveness of suppliers.
• Ensuring quality control: Inspecting parts upon delivery to ensure they meet quality standards

6. Collaboration and Communication:

• Working with other departments: Collaborating with the workshop, service advisors, and other relevant departments.
• Providing updates: Keeping stakeholders informed about order status and any potential issues.
• Sharing information: Providing information about parts availability and pricing to other team members.

Minimum Requirements:

• Senior Certificate (Grade 12)
• Knowledge/Experience of working with automotive parts essentail
• Working experience within the automotive body repair (Panelbeater) industry would be a distinct advantage
• Basic to Intermediate knowledge of Excel

Essential Competencies/Traits/Behaviours: 

• Delivering Results & Meeting Customer Expectations
• Assertive with Strong Communication Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Relating & Networking
• Creative Thinking
• Team Work

A competitive salary is offered plus standard company benefits such as medical aid and provident fund contributions.

Interested candidates who wish to apply, are requested to include a covering letter in which you motivate your suitability for the role. Include your area of residence. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, you can assume that your application was not successful.