Procurement Manager

Position Summary

The Manager – Procurement is responsible for leading the end-to-end strategic sourcing and procurement for direct and indirect materials and services across Pharma, Chemical, Food and Aqua product businesses. The role is accountable for supplier strategy, cost optimization, risk mitigation, compliance, process excellence, and team leadership, ensuring uninterrupted supply, competitive cost structure, and regulatory adherence.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Own and execute strategic sourcing strategies for:

• Raw materials, intermediates, solvents and chemicals

• Packaging materials (primary & secondary)

• Plant operating materials, spares, consumables (MRO)

• Tolling partners sourcing & management

• Logistics, warehousing, CHA, freight, and other services

• Develop category strategies, supplier roadmaps, and long-term sourcing plans aligned with demand, risk, and cost objectives.

• Identify alternate suppliers, geographies, and make-vs-buy opportunities to enhance resilience.

• Supplier, Vendor & Toller Management

• Lead supplier identification, qualification, onboarding, and rationalization.

• Drive supplier performance management (cost, quality, delivery, service, compliance).

• Manage strategic tollers and service providers including contracts, capacity commitment, and performance reviews.

• Partner with QA/Regulatory for vendor audits, approvals, and requalification requirements.

• Manage supplier risk including single-source exposure, force majeure, capacity, and regulatory risks.

• Procurement Planning & Execution

• Translate demand and supply plans into robust procurement plans aligned with production and inventory targets.

• Ensure timely availability of critical materials while balancing inventory, working capital, and service levels.

• Monitor lead times, MOQ constraints, shelf-life, and regulatory dependencies.

• Work closely with Supply Chain Planning, Manufacturing, and Logistics teams for execution readiness.

• Cost Optimization & Commercial Excellence

• Lead commercial negotiations, rate contracts, LTAs, and strategic agreements.

• Drive structured cost optimization initiatives across materials and services (should-costing, indexation, value engineering, alternate sourcing).

• Track raw material price movements, market indices, and industry trends.

• Deliver measurable savings while safeguarding quality, compliance, and supply continuity.

• Compliance, Quality & Regulatory Alignment

• Ensure procurement processes comply with GMP, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards relevant to Pharma, Chemicals, Food & Aqua segments.

• Own procurement documentation including MSDS, CoA, specifications, change controls, and import/export compliance inputs.

• Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits with complete documentation and traceability.

• Embed compliance-first mindset across suppliers and procurement operations.

• Process Development & Continuous Improvement

• Design, implement, and continuously improve procurement processes, SOPs, and governance frameworks .

• Drive standardization, automation, and ERP discipline (SAP / ERP systems).

• Establish clear procurement KPIs, dashboards, and MIS for leadership reporting.

• Identify inefficiencies and lead cross-functional improvement initiatives.

• Risk Management & Business Continuity

• Proactively identify supply, cost, and compliance risks.

• Build and maintain risk mitigation plans including alternate sourcing, buffering strategies, and contingency planning.

• Actively support crisis response and supply assurance during disruptions.

• Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Structure, lead, coach, and develop the procurement team .

• Set clear goals, performance expectations, and capability development plans.

• Build a high-ownership, data-driven, and compliance-oriented procurement culture.

• Act as escalation point and mentor within the sourcing and procurement function.

• Stakeholder & Leadership Engagement

• Act as primary procurement interface with Manufacturing, QA, Planning, Finance, Logistics, Commercial and Leadership teams.

• Provide management-level reporting, insights, and recommendations to APAC & global leadership.

• Represent procurement in S&OP / IBP, reviews, and strategic discussions.

• Reporting & Analytics

• Maintain procurement MIS, dashboards, and cost analysis reports

• Track KPIs such as cost savings, supplier performance, and lead time

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, Chemistry, Supply Chain, Operations, or Business

• MBA / Postgraduate qualification in Supply Chain / Operations preferred

• Experience 8–15 years of progressive experience in Procurement / Strategic Sourcing

• Strong exposure to Pharma and/or Chemical manufacturing environment

• Proven experience managing direct & indirect procurement, tolling, and services sourcing

Core Skills & Competencies

• Strategic sourcing & category management
• Strong negotiation and commercial acumen
• Supplier & risk management expertise
• Cost optimization & value engineering mindset
• Strong understanding of GMP, regulatory & quality systems
• ERP / SAP proficiency and strong analytical capability
• Stakeholder management across senior levels
• Structured problem-solving and execution focus
• Integrity, compliance-first and ownership mindset

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes