General Manager - Procurement

Group Company: Marks and Spencer Reliance India Private Limited

Designation: General Manager - Procurement

Office Location: Position description: An astute leader with strong leadership skills and a proven track record of process excellence, cost optimization, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement operations, Transitions and developing high performing team

Key accountabilities, responsibilities, and measures: Strategic Procurement

• Develop and execute indirect procurement strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Lead category management and sourcing initiatives across IT, Marketing, Retail, Facilities, Logistics, Professional Services, HR, Admin, and CAPEX (Projects & others.
• Drive cost savings, cost avoidance, and value creation initiatives.

Supplier & Contract Management

• Establish strategic supplier partnerships and performance management frameworks.
• Lead commercial negotiations and contract management.
• Ensure supplier compliance, risk mitigation, and business continuity planning.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with business leaders to understand requirements and deliver procurement solutions.
• Influence sourcing decisions and promote procurement best practices across the organization.

Governance & Transformation

• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, controls, and audit requirements.
• Drive procurement digitization, process automation, and analytics-based decision making.
• Lead procurement transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.

Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop procurement teams.
• Build procurement capabilities, succession plans, and high-performance culture.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement operational excellence and compliance focus across colleagues, while ensuring adherence to the M&S Behaviours

Key relationships and stakeholders:

• Business Functions - IT, Marketing, Retail Operations, Logistics, HR and Administration
• Finance, Legal, Risk, Compliance
• Projects, Facilities and CAPEX teams
• External suppliers, service providers and strategic sourcing partners

Key Skills: Strategic Procurement & Commercial Acumen

• Shape category strategies, negotiate complex contracts and deliver measurable commercial value.
• Strong negotiation and influencing capability.
• Ability to collaboration with project, engineering, operations, and business teams to develop procurement strategies, vendor ecosystems, and contracting models that support rapid retail growth and operational excellence.

Supplier & Risk Management

• Build supplier relationships, manage performance and mitigate sourcing and continuity risks.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead cross-functional change and build an accountable, high-performing procurement team.
• Ability to lead transformation and change.

Governance & Operational Excellence

• Embed robust procurement controls, policy compliance and continuous improvement.
• High level of integrity and governance orientation
• Drive supplier innovation, standardization, value engineering, and strategic partnerships to optimize project costs and improve speed-to-market for retail expansion initiatives.

Digital & Data-Driven Decision Making

• Knowledge & ability to leverage procurement technologies, digital platforms, automation tools, and AI-enabled solutions to drive sourcing effectiveness, process efficiency, and enhanced stakeholder experience
• Utilize spend analytics, market intelligence, supplier performance dashboards, and data-driven insights to support strategic decision-making and value creation
• Plan & drive digital initiatives

Stakeholder Management & Influence

• Partner credibly with senior leaders and balance commercial priorities across functions.

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering , Commerce, Supply Chain, Operations or related discipline.
• MBA / PGDM preferably in Business Management, Operations, Supply Chain

Experience:

• 15+ years of progressive procurement experience, including a minimum of 8 years in indirect procurement leadership roles.
• Proven experience in strategic sourcing, supplier management, contract negotiation and procurement transformation.
• Strong background in procurement governance, risk management and cross-functional stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in Fashion, Retail or similar industries preferred.
• Exposure to procurement platforms such as SAP, Ariba, Coupa, Oracle or equivalent systems.
• Proven experience in sourcing and procurement for retail store fit-outs, new store launches, refurbishments, MEP works, fixtures & furniture, branding and signage, facilities management, and indirect procurement categories.