Asociate Director-Procurement

Who we are Plaksha is a 21st-century university focused on solving global challenges through transformative technology education. A unique collective philanthropy effort, our initiative is driven by a dedicated team committed to reimagining technology education in India. What can Plaksha offer you? A mission-driven workplace with opportunities to collaborate with leading minds in academia and industry. A transparent work culture embodying our values C.R.E.A.T.E. (Curious, Rigorous, Enterprising, Authentic, Thankful, Exemplary), fostering personal growth. An inclusive environment that values diverse talent, promotes innovation, and supports the development of individuals from underrepresented groups. Role – Associate Director – Procurement The Associate Director – Procurement will serve as the strategic leader for all procurement functions at Plaksha University, encompassing both Opex and Capex portfolios. This role demands a forward-thinking leader with deep institutional procurement expertise, the ability to design and drive organization-wide procurement transformation, and a strong command of governance and compliance frameworks. The incumbent will be responsible for building and leading the procurement team, establishing robust procurement policies, and functioning as a trusted institutional partner - collaborating closely with cross-functional departments and engaging with the Plaksha Board on matters of strategic procurement significance. Responsibilities Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management: Serve as the key liaison with suppliers, establishing strong relationships for quality sourcing. Lead procurement efforts for Plaksha and RHEF, focusing on Capex & Opex requirements. Float tenders for various projects, ensuring competitive and fair bidding processes. Identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers based on university needs and project requirements. Develop supplier performance metrics for regular assessment and improvement. Oversee and govern end-to-end strategic sourcing, including tendering, negotiation for all agreements including high-value and complex procurements. Design and institutionalize supplier performance frameworks to ensure continuous improvement. Procurement Operations and Governance: Lead end-to-end procurement processes, including negotiating contracts and purchases to secure best value deals aligned with university goals. Review the quality of purchased products and manage all maintenance contracts. Manage procurement for in-house and offsite events, ensuring seamless execution. Process all indents related to Opex and project requirements, ensuring timely procurement. Analyse commercial comparisons of tenders and negotiate favourable terms. Develop and evaluate vendors, ensuring a robust and reliable supplier base. Provide oversight for all procurement processes, ensuring alignment with best practices, university policies, and regulatory requirements. Drive institutional compliance across all categories - Opex, Capex, services, and events - through robust governance mechanisms. Review and approve high-value procurement decisions, contract terms, and commercial comparisons of tenders. Collaborate with Finance leadership on cash flow management, procurement budgets, and capital expenditure planning. Establish and maintain a comprehensive delegation of authority matrix for procurement approvals. Process Excellence & Compliance: Lead value engineering, process re-engineering, and digital transformation initiatives within the procurement function. Institutionalize procurement best practices and policies, benchmarking against leading universities and corporates. Partner with the legal team to develop standardized contract templates and legally compliant procurement terms. Manage and optimize processes for RGP (Returnable Gate Pass), NRGP (Non-Returnable Gate Pass), and scrap value recovery. Service and Contract Oversight: Provide strategic oversight of all service contracts, including housekeeping, catering, security, maintenance, and event management. Ensure optimal service delivery across all managed contracts, with a focus on quality, cost, and institutional satisfaction. Reporting & Analysis: Own the procurement reporting framework, presenting spend analytics, savings dashboards, and category performance to senior leadership. Drive data-driven decision-making through development of procurement KPIs, benchmarks, and performance metrics. Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 4-5 procurement professionals, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence. Define team structure, career pathways, and capability development plans for the procurement function. Attract and retain top procurement talent to build institutional capability for the long term. Skills Demonstrates strategic leadership in institutional or large-scale procurement environments. Deep expertise in procurement strategy, strategic sourcing, vendor management, and contract governance. Exceptional negotiation, influencing, and executive communication skills. Strong analytical mindset with ability to synthesize data into actionable insights. High ethical standards, institutional integrity, and commitment to compliance and transparency. Ability to manage complexity and lead organizational change in a dynamic, fast-growing environment Experience and Education 16+ years of working experience in the procurement department, preferably in education or infrastructure. Bachelor’s degree Good to have a Master's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, or Business. Location Mohali (Full time)