Purchase Head

This role is for one of the Weekday's clients

Salary range: Rs 2000000 - Rs 7000000 (ie INR 20-70 LPA)

Experience: 10+ yrs

Location: Mumbai

Job Type: full-time

We are seeking an experienced Purchase Head to lead and strengthen the procurement function for R&D and product development operations. This role is responsible for driving strategic sourcing, vendor management, procurement planning, and supply continuity for critical materials including APIs, excipients, intermediates, specialty chemicals, and research-related inputs.

As a senior procurement leader, you will play a key role in ensuring timely availability of materials required for research, development, scale-up, and commercial operations while maintaining cost efficiency, quality standards, and regulatory compliance. The role requires a strong understanding of pharmaceutical and chemical sourcing markets, supplier ecosystems, commercial negotiations, and procurement best practices.

You will work closely with R&D, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, finance, and supply chain teams to establish a robust procurement framework that supports innovation, operational excellence, and business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end procurement activities for APIs, excipients, intermediates, specialty chemicals, laboratory materials, and R&D consumables.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with organizational objectives and product development timelines.
• Build and manage a reliable supplier network to ensure uninterrupted material availability and competitive pricing.
• Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing structures, payment terms, and supply contracts with domestic and international vendors.
• Collaborate closely with R&D teams to understand evolving material requirements and identify suitable sourcing options.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, quality standards, regulatory compliance, and risk factors before onboarding.
• Drive vendor performance management through regular reviews of quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost competitiveness.
• Monitor market trends, raw material pricing, supplier developments, and emerging sourcing opportunities.
• Establish procurement policies, SOPs, and governance frameworks to improve efficiency and compliance.
• Ensure timely procurement planning to avoid project delays and production disruptions.
• Partner with finance and supply chain teams to optimize inventory levels, working capital, and procurement costs.
• Identify alternate sourcing strategies and contingency plans to mitigate supply risks.
• Lead procurement budgeting, forecasting, and reporting activities for senior management.
• Mentor and develop procurement teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• 10+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management within pharmaceuticals, chemicals, life sciences, or related industries.
• Strong expertise in sourcing APIs, excipients, intermediates, specialty chemicals, and R&D materials.
• Proven experience managing strategic procurement functions and supplier relationships.
• Excellent commercial negotiation and contract management skills.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical procurement practices, regulatory requirements, and quality standards.
• Ability to balance cost optimization with quality, compliance, and supply continuity.
• Experience handling both domestic and international sourcing operations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple functions.
• Proven leadership experience in managing procurement teams and driving organizational procurement strategies.

Preferred Skills

• Purchase Management
• R&D Procurement
• API Sourcing
• Excipients Procurement
• Intermediates Sourcing
• Vendor Development
• Strategic Sourcing
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Contract Negotiation
• Procurement Planning
• Supply Chain Management
• Cost Optimization