Lead Purchase

Position: Lead Purchase

Experience: 15-20 Years
Department: Supply Chain Management / Procurement
Reporting To: Plant Head
Location: Sinnar, Nashik

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic SCM & Purchase professional with 15-20 years of experience to lead end-to-end Supply Chain and Procurement operations. The incumbent shall be responsible for managing the complete material lifecycle from sourcing, procurement, supplier management, inventory control, stores management, inward logistics, material planning, production support, dispatch, and outward logistics. The role requires strategic thinking, strong commercial acumen, vendor development expertise, cost optimization capabilities, and leadership skills to ensure uninterrupted business operations.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement & Strategic Sourcing

● Develop and implement procurement strategies aligned with organizational goals.

● Manage end-to-end purchasing activities for direct and indirect materials.

● Conduct supplier identification, evaluation, qualification, and development.

● Negotiate prices, commercial terms, contracts, and annual rate agreements.

● Ensure optimum procurement costs while maintaining quality and delivery standards.

● Monitor market trends, commodity pricing, and supply risks.

Supplier Relationship Management

● Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and service providers.

● Conduct supplier performance reviews and audits.

● Develop alternate vendors for critical materials.

● Resolve supplier-related quality, delivery, and commercial issues.

Material Planning & Inventory Control

● Lead material requirement planning (MRP) based on production forecasts.

● Ensure optimum inventory levels and avoid stock-outs.

● Monitor slow-moving, non-moving, and obsolete inventory.

● Implement inventory reduction and working capital optimization initiatives.

Inward Logistics & Stores Management

● Oversee inbound logistics and receipt of materials.

● Ensure timely unloading, inspection, GRN generation, and material storage.

● Maintain material traceability and inventory accuracy.

● Implement best practices in warehouse and stores management.

Production Support

● Coordinate closely with production, quality, engineering, and planning teams.

● Ensure timely availability of materials for uninterrupted manufacturing operations.

● Monitor critical material availability and proactively address shortages.

Outward Logistics & Dispatch

● Manage dispatch planning and customer delivery requirements.

● Coordinate transportation and logistics partners.

● Ensure on-time delivery performance and logistics cost optimization.

● Monitor freight negotiation and logistics efficiency.

Cost Optimization

● Drive cost-saving initiatives through strategic sourcing and vendor negotiations.

● Implement value engineering/value analysis projects.

● Improve procurement efficiency and reduce supply chain costs.

Process Improvement & Compliance

● Establish and improve SCM processes, SOPs, and procurement policies.

● Ensure compliance with statutory requirements and company procedures.

● Support ISO, IATF, and customer audits, where applicable.

● Promote digitization and ERP-based procurement processes.

Team Leadership

● Lead and mentor procurement, stores, logistics, and SCM teams.

● Develop succession plans and enhance team capabilities.

● Drive a culture of accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

● Procurement Savings (%)

● Supplier On-Time Delivery (OTD)

● Inventory Turnover Ratio

● Inventory Accuracy

● Material Availability to Production

● Logistics Cost Reduction

● Vendor Performance Ratings

● Working Capital Optimization

● Dispatch Adherence

● Supplier Development & Alternate Source Creation

Educational Qualification

● Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Mechanical/Production/Industrial or equivalent).

● MBA/PGDM in Supply Chain Management, Operations, or Materials Management preferred.

● Professional certifications in SCM, Procurement, Lean, Six Sigma, or Logistics will be an added advantage.

Required Skills & Competencies

Technical Skills

● Strategic Sourcing

● Procurement Management

● Supply Chain Planning

● Inventory Management

● Vendor Development

● Logistics & Warehousing

● Contract Management

● Cost Analysis & Budgeting

● ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.)

● Import & Export Procurement Knowledge

Leadership Skills

● Team Management

● Negotiation & Influencing

● Decision Making

● Analytical Thinking

● Stakeholder Management

● Problem Solving

● Change Management

Preferred Industry Experience

● Automotive

● Auto Components

● Manufacturing

● Engineering

● Heavy Engineering

● Industrial Products

● Process Industries

Expected Outcome

The position holder will ensure seamless management of the entire supply chain ecosystem from supplier selection, procurement, inward logistics, stores, inventory management, production support, dispatch, and outward logistics, while achieving cost optimization, operational excellence, and uninterrupted business continuity