Lead Procurement (CAPEX & OPEX)

Reports To: Regional Commercial Head

Role Purpose

The Lead Procurement will drive end-to-end strategic sourcing and procurement activities across all existing and upcoming school campuses of Jindal Education Trust across India. This position is responsible for managing both CAPEX (Capital Expenditure new campus development, labs, sports facilities, IT infrastructure, major refurbishments) and OPEX (Operational Expenditure daily school supplies, uniforms, books & Stationery, facility management contracts, security, transport).

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic CAPEX Procurement (Campus Development & Infrastructure)

Lead end-to-end procurement for new school setups, wing expansions, and major campus renovations across India.

Source and procure school furniture, laboratory equipment (Science, STEM, Robotics), IT hardware (smartboards, servers, AV systems), playground/sports infrastructure, and HVAC/MEP equipment.

Collaborate with architects, civil engineers, and project teams to finalize specifications, bill of quantities (BOQ), and project timelines.

2. Strategic OPEX Procurement (Daily School Operations)

Standardize and streamline procurement of operational goods across all schools, including stationery, uniforms, textbooks, housekeeping materials, cafeteria supplies, and medical kits.

Oversee pan-India service contracts including facility management, security services, transport/fleet maintenance, and software/SaaS renewals.

Implement centralized annual rate contracts (ARCs) to leverage economies of scale across all trust campuses.

3. Vendor Management & Strategic Sourcing

Build, evaluate, and maintain a robust pan-India vendor repository for high-quality goods and services.

Float RFPs/RFQs, conduct technical and commercial bid evaluations, and lead negotiations to secure optimal pricing and favorable payment terms.

Establish Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for key suppliers; conduct regular vendor performance audits.

4. Cost Optimization & Budgetary Control

Drive cost-saving initiatives without compromising quality, safety, or regulatory compliance standards.

Conduct spend analyses to identify process bottlenecks, consolidation opportunities, and cost-reduction avenues.

5. Inventory Control, Process & Compliance

Implement standardized procurement policies, SOPs / DOPs, and governance framework across all campuses.

Ensure full transparency, audit compliance, and adherence to trust policies across all purchase orders (POs) and contracts.

Candidate Profile & Key Competencies

Education - Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, or Supply Chain Management.

Experience - 5 to 10 years of progressive experience in procurement/supply chain handling both CAPEX and OPEX, ideally in K-12 school chains, higher education networks, hospitality

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

1. Cost Savings: Percentage savings achieved against budgeted CAPEX and OPEX spend.

2. On-Time Delivery: Delivery of school opening/project requirements within scheduled timelines.

3. Vendor SLA Compliance: Adherence of empanelled suppliers to quality standards and fulfillment timelines.

4. Process Standardization: Degree of central rate contract coverage across pan-India campuses.