Procurement - Packaging Specialist

About the Role

Responsible for end-to-end procurement of packing materials for the Generic Formulations business, ensuring uninterrupted material availability, regulatory and artwork compliance, cost competitiveness, supplier performance and supply continuity. The role will manage Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Packing Materials (PPM, SPM and TPM) and collaborate closely with Packaging Development, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Planning, Manufacturing, Warehouse, and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Own procurement of PPM, SPM and TPM, including materials such as bottles, caps and closures, blister foils, labels, cartons, leaflets, shippers, tapes, liners, trays and other product-specific packaging components.
• Manage purchase requisitions, RFQs, commercial negotiations, purchase order release, delivery schedules and closure of open purchase orders through SAP/MM or the applicable ERP system.
• Build deep category understanding across PPM, SPM and TPM, including manufacturing processes, material structures, print technologies, technical specifications, testing requirements, tooling, cylinders, plates, development lead times and key cost drivers.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with applicable GMP requirements, approved specifications, change-control requirements, data-integrity expectations and market-specific regulatory commitments for generic formulation products.
• Coordinate artwork initiation, development, proof circulation, technical review and approval with Packaging Development, QA and suppliers.
• Maintain artwork and version control at purchase-order level, prevent obsolete or incorrect printed materials from entering the supply chain, and destruction or disposition of superseded materials as authorized.
• Drive alternate supplier identification and qualification for critical and single-source packaging materials in coordination with Packaging Development, QA, QC, Regulatory Affairs, R&D and manufacturing sites.
• Develop sourcing strategies that improve supply security, reduce dependency, optimize lead time and enhance cost competitiveness without compromising quality, regulatory compliance or patient safety.
• Monitor supplier capacity, delivery adherence, quality performance, responsiveness and business-continuity risks; conduct structured supplier reviews and drive corrective and preventive actions with relevant functions.
• Maintain complete procurement documentation, approved supplier and material records, quotation comparisons, negotiation records, artwork references, trackers, SAP data, MIS reports and audit-supporting evidence in line with internal governance requirements.
• Support internal, customer and regulatory audits by providing traceable procurement, supplier, artwork, qualification and change-management documentation.

Key Performance Indicators

• On-time availability of approved packing materials against production, launch and dispatch plans.
• Supplier on-time-in-full performance, lead-time adherence and closure of critical shortages.
• Number and timeliness of alternate supplier qualifications for critical or single-source materials.
• Accuracy and timeliness of SAP updates, purchase orders, trackers, supplier-performance reports and MIS submissions.

Qualifications

• M.Pharm or an equivalent relevant postgraduate degree from a recognized institution.
• 4-8 years of relevant procurement experience in the pharmaceutical industry, preferably in generic formulations, with substantial responsibility for packing-material sourcing and supplier management.
• Degree from Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) is desirable.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated hands-on knowledge of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Packing Materials (PPM, SPM and TPM), artwork management, printed packaging controls and alternate supplier qualification.
• Working knowledge of SAP/MM or comparable ERP systems, Advance Excel, purchase-order processing, vendor master data, taxation, commercial terms, logistics and procurement documentation.
• Strong commercial, analytical and negotiation capability, with the ability to evaluate quotations, cost structures, total landed cost, supply risks and inventory implications.
• Effective stakeholder-management and communication skills for working with suppliers and cross-functional teams across Packaging Development, Regulatory Affairs, QA, QC, Planning, Manufacturing, Warehouse, Finance, and R&D.