About the position
My client based in Cape Town is currently looking for a Yarn Procurement Specialist to join their team.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in Textile Technology, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or related field
- Minimum 5+ years' experience in yarn sourcing, textile procurement, or quality assurance
- Exposure to knitting and/or fabric production environments
- Strong experience in supplier negotiations and contract management
- Proven track record in cost optimisation and supplier performance management
- Experience working cross-functionally with production, planning, and quality teams
- Strong written and verbal communication skills (English & Afrikaans)
- Advanced analytical and reporting capability (Excel, ERP systems, procurement tools)
- Experience within high-volume textile manufacturing
- Understanding of international sourcing and import processes
- Knowledge of fibre classifications, yarn counts, blends, and textile testing standards
Responsibilities
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard yarn suppliers aligned to production requirements
- Conduct supplier audits and performance reviews
- Develop long-term strategic vendor partnerships
- Maintain strong textile vendor relationships to ensure reliable supply chains
- Lead price negotiations and commercial terms discussions
- Secure favourable pricing, lead times, and payment terms
- Draft and manage supplier agreements
- Monitor market pricing trends and raw material fluctuations
- Align yarn procurement with production schedules and demand forecasts
- Ensure optimal stock levels to prevent shortages or overstocking
- Collaborate with Planning and Warehouse teams to improve stock accuracy
- Monitor slow-moving or obsolete stock and mitigate risk
- Assess yarn quality against manufacturing specifications
- Work closely with Quality Assurance to resolve non-conformance issues
- Ensure suppliers meet fibre composition and performance standards
- Manage claims and returns for defective yarn
- Track supplier KPIs (cost, quality, delivery performance)
- Prepare procurement reports for Operations Executive
- Conduct cost-benefit analysis on alternative yarn sources
- Support strategic sourcing decisions through data-driven insights
Competency
- Deep understanding of textile fibres and yarn construction
- Knowledge of yarn counts, blends, tensile strength, shrinkage, and dye performance
- Procurement lifecycle management
- Cost analysis and budgeting
- ERP and inventory management systems
- Strong negotiation skills
- Commercial acumen
- Analytical thinking
- Detail orientation
- Relationship building
- Problem-solving ability
- Decision-making under pressure
- High integrity and ethical conduct
If you are ready for the next exciting step in your career, and would like to apply, please send us your updated CV to review.
Desired Skills:
- Category Management
- Strategic Sourcing
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Supplier Negotiation
- Procurement management
