Job Description

Contract Manager (Tender Specialist)
Only candidates with proven end-to-end tender management experience will be considered
This must include demonstrated involvement from specification development through to contract award and contract management.
Position Overview
Position based in Midrand, Johannesburg
Our client invites suitably qualified and experienced professionals to apply for the position of Contract Manager (Tender Specialist). This role is central to delivering compliant, transparent, and value?for?money procurement solutions for our client member institutions and strengthening collaboration across the consortium.
The Contract Manager/Tender Specialist is responsible for managing the full tender and contract lifecycle, while actively supporting increased member participation and utilisation of our client group contracts. Business development in this role is focused on member engagement and collaborative procurement growth, rather than product sales.
Key Focus Areas

• End?to?end tender management
• Contract and supplier performance management
• Member participation and collaborative procurement development
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management
• Governance, compliance, and risk management

Key Responsibilities
Tender & Contract Management

• Manage the full tender lifecycle, including needs analysis, scope and specification development, tender documentation, publication, evaluation, adjudication, reporting, and award recommendations
• Support member institutions in developing clear, compliant, and fit?for?purpose specifications
• Ensure tender processes and outcomes are transparent, auditable, and legally defensible
• Manage contract awards, renewals, variations, and extensions
• Monitor supplier performance, service delivery, and contractual compliance

Member?Centric Business Development

• Drive increased participation and collaboration by member institutions in our clients contracts
• Identify opportunities for collective and group purchasing aligned to member needs
• Translate procurement requirements into scalable, collaborative tender solutions
• Support the growth, utilisation, and continuous improvement of our clients contract portfolio
• Strengthen our clients value proposition through improved member engagement and uptake

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with member institutions, suppliers, and internal stakeholders
• Facilitate procurement forums, member engagements, briefing sessions, and evaluation processes
• Represent our client at member platforms, advisory committees, and sector engagement forums

Governance, Systems & Reporting

• Ensure full compliance with applicable legislation (including PPPFA), governance frameworks, and our clients policies
• Drive standardisation and continuous improvement of procurement processes
• Oversee and optimise e?tendering and catalogue systems
• Track procurement performance, savings, and member participation metrics
• Provide accurate and timeous reporting to the CEO, Finance, and relevant member forums

People Management

• Manage at least one support staff member
• Provide operational support across the team as required

Key Dimensions
Financial

• Achieve and record procurement cost savings for our client and member institutions
• Ensure cost?effective operation of procurement systems
• Report savings and financial impacts to the CEO and Financial Manager

Non?Financial

• Manage allocated regions in coordination with Regional Management Committees
• Support Member Advisory Committees and User Groups

Major Challenges

• Managing complex tenders within a regulated procurement environment
• Balancing multiple projects and tight deadlines
• Engaging a wide range of stakeholders across the higher education sector
• Managing a high workload with competing priorities
• Frequent domestic travel to member institutions

Education, Experience & Skills
Education

• Bachelors degree in commerce, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business Management, Law, Finance, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years experience in procurement and tender management
• Proven experience managing the full tender lifecycle
• Experience in Construction, ICT, and/or Facilities tenders will be an advantage
• Candidates from legal, finance, or construction backgrounds with procurement experience are encouraged to apply
• Experience working in regulated or public?sector procurement environments

Key Skills & Competencies
Tender & Procurement

• End?to?end tender and contract management expertise
• Strong knowledge of procurement legislation, governance, and compliance
• Supplier evaluation, contract administration, and performance management
• Risk management and audit readiness

Member?Focused Business Development

• Ability to increase member participation within a shared?services procurement model
• Understanding of group purchasing and collaborative procurement frameworks
• Ability to translate member needs into collective procurement solutions
• Commercial awareness with a strong value?for?money focus

Stakeholder & Professional Skills

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills
• Strong communication, facilitation, and presentation abilities
• High levels of professionalism, integrity, and attention to detail
• Strong planning, organisational, and time?management skills
• Analytical and problem?solving capability

Systems & Digital

• Experience using e?tendering and e?procurement platforms
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office 365

Salary: Market related
How to Apply
Please apply directly via this job board or email your CV to
Surgo (Pty) Ltd is an Employment Equity (EE) committed employer and encourages applications from people with disabilities and candidates from diverse backgrounds.
Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within three months, please consider your application unsuccessful. Your CV will remain on our database for future opportunities unless you request otherwise.

Skills Required