Sourcing Optimisation Centre of Excellence - Senior Associate

Management Level Senior Associate Job Description & Summary At PwC, our people in project portfolio management focus on optimising project portfolios to drive strategic business outcomes. These individuals oversee project selection, prioritisation, and resource allocation to facilitate successful project delivery. In project management at PwC, you will oversee and coordinate various projects to facilitate successful delivery within budget and timeline. You will leverage strong organisational and communication skills to effectively manage teams and stakeholders. Focused on relationships, you are building meaningful client connections, and learning how to manage and inspire others. Navigating increasingly complex situations, you are growing your personal brand, deepening technical expertise and awareness of your strengths. You are expected to anticipate the needs of your teams and clients, and to deliver quality. Embracing increased ambiguity, you are comfortable when the path forward isn’t clear, you ask questions, and you use these moments as opportunities to grow. Examples of the skills, knowledge, and experiences you need to lead and deliver value at this level include but are not limited to: Respond effectively to the diverse perspectives, needs, and feelings of others. Use a broad range of tools, methodologies and techniques to generate new ideas and solve problems. Use critical thinking to break down complex concepts. Understand the broader objectives of your project or role and how your work fits into the overall strategy. Develop a deeper understanding of the business context and how it is changing. Use reflection to develop self awareness, enhance strengths and address development areas. Interpret data to inform insights and recommendations. Uphold and reinforce professional and technical standards (e.g. refer to specific PwC tax and audit guidance), the Firm's code of conduct, and independence requirements. About PwC SATIC and the role Are you ready to deliver cutting-edge sourcing optimisation programmes using Coupa’s industry-leading sourcing optimisation platform (CSO) Join PwC’s Digital Procurement team and play a key role in creating value for global organisations across a diverse range of sectors. Summary: As a Sourcing Optimisation Specialist, you will be part of a global Centre of Excellence and play a key role in shaping how procurement functions evolve over the coming decade. This position offers broad exposure to multiple teams within the organisation, providing significant opportunities for professional growth. The role focuses on driving strategic, digital approaches to regional and global procurement organisations, supporting the vision and identifying ways technology can advance business objectives. You will be responsible for leading end to end sourcing events in the technology – from system administration to auction theory, whilst identifying new methods to generate savings through strategic sourcing. The dynamic nature of this position requires adaptability and comfort working with diverse stakeholders in ambiguous situations, encouraging innovative thinking and exploration of potential rather than limitations. This role can be based anywhere in South Africa. Qualifications / Certifications required: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent/relevant experience Experience required: Minimum of 3- 5 years of proven experience on large scale, global and complex procurement managed services. Solid working experience in Ariba (Complex tenders) Keelvar, ASO or CSO (eSourcing) Knowledgeable about sourcing/procurement processes with a strong understanding of sourcing strategy, supplier evaluation and negotiation. Understands the transport and logistics category. Experience in conducting meetings, reporting, and performance monitoring. Ability to create clear and concise materials for leadership reporting. Strong stakeholder management abilities; proactive work ethic Experience working across a variety of industries and sectors is highly desirable Responsibilities of role: Key responsibilities: Manage the operational delivery of sourcing optimisation managed services, ensuring standardisation and consistent application of our delivery methodology across all markets and projects. Orchestrate and organise the deployment of resources from the CSO CoE to ensure seamless service delivery. Track performance of all events across the duration of each managed service, including savings and all other KPIs. Play a leadership role in developing the CoE capability and team culture. Client Engagement: Prepare, organise and run programme management meetings and reporting. Engage with the client’s local procurement teams to understand objectives, scope, data and complexity of tender requirements. Some of your attributes will include: Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams. Demonstrates digital curiosity—comfortable learning new technologies independently (“Google it” mentality). Process-oriented approach combined with strong attention to detail. Problem solver who can bridge business needs with technical capabilities effectively. Highly analytical (Excel, maths, data) Excellent verbal/written communication skills across all organisational levels. Desirable skill sets include: Excellent Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills to engage effectively with internal stakeholders and external candidates. Organisational Agility: Ability to manage multiple priorities with precision and attention to detail. Analytical Mindset: Comfortable interpreting metrics and data to inform decision-making. Resilience: Maintains composure and effectiveness under pressure, adapting to changing priorities with confidence. Curiosity: Demonstrates a proactive interest in learning and improving HR practices, systems, and processes. Team Focused: Values collaboration and contributes positively to team dynamics and shared goals. Learning Mindset: Embraces continuous development and seeks opportunities to grow professionally. Positive Energy: Brings enthusiasm and a constructive attitude to daily interactions and challenges. Approachability: Builds trust and rapport with colleagues through openness, empathy, and supportiveness. Proactiveness: Anticipates needs, takes initiative, and drives tasks forward independently to ensure timely and effective outcomes. ​ ​ ​ ​ Travel Requirements Up to 20% Available for Work Visa Sponsorship? No Job Posting End Date July 3, 2026