Manager Purchase

Job Description
Head Purchase
Function: Purchase / Procurement
Designation: Head Purchase
Location: Bengaluru
Reporting To: Business / Functional Leadership
Industry: Automotive / Mobility / Manufacturing
1. Role Purpose
We are looking for an experienced Purchase Head who can build and lead a scalable procurement function as the business grows.
The role will have overall responsibility for strategic sourcing, localization, supplier development, commercial negotiations, import/export operations, cost optimization and purchase execution. The person will initially work closely with the existing Purchase team and progressively build the procurement organization in line with business requirements.
A key expectation from this role is to drive localization of imported components, develop competitive domestic suppliers, optimize the import-export value chain and establish a robust procurement strategy capable of supporting significant business growth.

2. Key Responsibilities
A. Strategic Procurement & Purchase Management

• Develop and implement the overall purchase and procurement strategy aligned with business and production plans.
• Lead procurement of direct and indirect materials, components, assemblies and other business requirements.
• Develop sourcing strategies considering cost, quality, delivery, technology, capacity and supply risk.
• Establish appropriate sourcing models including single sourcing, dual sourcing and alternate supplier development.
• Ensure timely availability of materials in line with production requirements.
• Establish robust systems for purchase planning, supplier selection, RFQ, evaluation, nomination, ordering and delivery follow-up.
• Develop and monitor procurement KPIs including cost savings, PPV, supplier OTD, inventory, localization and supplier performance.

B. Localization

• Lead the company's localization strategy for imported components and assemblies.
• Identify components suitable for localization based on cost, technology, volumes, lead time, duties and supply-chain considerations.
• Identify, evaluate and develop capable Indian suppliers for localized components.
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing and Suppliers to support design-to-cost and localization initiatives.
• Drive supplier capability assessment, development and localization trials.
• Develop localization roadmaps with clear targets, timelines and commercial benefits.
• Evaluate the total landed cost of imported parts versus localized alternatives.
• Support technical/commercial discussions with suppliers during localization.
• Identify opportunities for increasing local content and reducing import dependency.

C. Import & Export

• Take ownership of the organization's import and export procurement activities.
• Manage end-to-end import processes including supplier coordination, purchase orders, shipping, documentation, customs clearance and delivery.
• Develop expertise in Incoterms, customs procedures, HS classification, duties, freight, insurance and landed-cost calculation.
• Coordinate with CHA, freight forwarders, logistics partners, banks and other stakeholders.
• Optimize international freight and logistics costs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable import/export regulations and company procedures.
• Evaluate international sourcing opportunities based on total landed cost and supply risk.
• Identify opportunities for duty optimization and efficient international supply-chain structures.
• Develop appropriate processes for managing international suppliers and shipments.

D. Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Development

• Identify and develop new domestic and international suppliers.
• Conduct supplier identification, pre-qualification, commercial evaluation and capability assessment.
• Build a strong and competitive supplier base to support future business growth.
• Develop alternate sources for critical and high-risk components.
• Conduct supplier benchmarking and market intelligence.
• Work with Quality and Engineering teams for supplier qualification and development.
• Monitor supplier capacity, financial health, technology, quality and delivery capability.
• Develop long-term strategic relationships with key suppliers.

E. Commercial Negotiation & Cost Optimization

• Lead commercial negotiations with domestic and international suppliers.
• Negotiate price, payment terms, tooling, MOQ, lead time, warranty, logistics, forex exposure and other commercial conditions.
• Drive annual cost reduction and continuous cost improvement initiatives.
• Establish should-cost / target-cost models wherever applicable.
• Conduct supplier price benchmarking and cost analysis.
• Challenge supplier cost structures and identify opportunities for value engineering.
• Develop and implement VA/VE initiatives jointly with Engineering and suppliers.
• Ensure that procurement decisions consider total cost of ownership, not merely purchase price.

F. Purchase Planning & Operations

• Ensure purchase plans are aligned with production and sales forecasts.
• Monitor material availability and proactively address potential shortages.
• Establish appropriate inventory and safety-stock strategies for critical components.
• Monitor open purchase orders and supplier commitments.
• Ensure timely escalation and resolution of supply issues.
• Improve procurement lead times and purchase process efficiency.
• Establish systems and controls to minimize excess, obsolete and slow-moving inventory.

G. Supplier Performance Management

• Establish supplier performance measurement systems covering:
• Quality
• Cost
• Delivery
• Responsiveness
• Capacity
• Localization
• Innovation

• Conduct regular supplier performance reviews.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions for supplier issues.
• Develop improvement plans for underperforming suppliers.
• Build strategic partnerships with key suppliers while maintaining commercial competitiveness.

H. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with:

• Engineering / R&D
• Manufacturing
• Quality
• Finance
• Logistics / Supply Chain
• Sales & Business Development
• Program Management
• Management

to ensure procurement decisions support product development, localization, cost, quality and business growth objectives.
The role will be expected to participate early in new product and new program activities to influence design, sourcing, localization and cost decisions.

3. Team Building & Organization Development

• Initially lead the existing purchase function and gradually build the procurement organization based on business requirements.
• Define roles, responsibilities and organization structure for Purchase, Strategic Sourcing, Localization and Import/Export.
• Mentor and develop procurement team members.
• Establish appropriate delegation and review mechanisms.
• Build processes that allow the function to scale without excessive dependence on individual employees.
• Develop a strong second line within the procurement organization.

4. Key Deliverables / Success Measures
The incumbent will be measured on:

1. Localization % and localization roadmap achievement
2. Annual procurement cost savings / cost avoidance
3. Reduction in import dependency
4. Supplier development and alternate-source creation
5. Supplier On-Time Delivery (OTD)
6. Supplier quality performance
7. Purchase price variance / cost competitiveness
8. Import/export cost and landed-cost optimization
9. Material availability and production continuity
10. Inventory optimization
11. Supplier payment-term improvement
12. Successful sourcing of new projects / products
13. Procurement process maturity and team development

5. Candidate Profile
Education

• Bachelors degree in engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Commerce or related discipline.
• MBA / PGDM in Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations or related field will be an advantage.

Experience

• 15+ years of experience in Purchase / Procurement / Strategic Sourcing, preferably in the automotive, auto-component, mobility or manufacturing industry.
• Significant experience in localization and supplier development.
• Strong hands-on experience in Import & Export procurement and international sourcing.
• Proven experience in strategic and commercial negotiations.
• Experience in leading procurement teams and building procurement processes.
• Experience handling both domestic and international suppliers.

Essential Expertise
The candidate should have strong demonstrated capability in:

• Strategic Procurement
• Localization
• Import / Export
• International Sourcing
• Supplier Development
• Commercial Negotiation
• Cost Reduction
• VA / VE
• Should-Cost / Cost Analysis
• Supplier Evaluation
• Contract & Commercial Management
• Supply Risk Management
• Procurement Planning

6. Desired Competencies

Strategic Thinking
Ability to look beyond transactional purchasing and develop a long-term sourcing and localization strategy.
Negotiation
Strong commercial acumen and ability to negotiate effectively with domestic and international suppliers.
Business Orientation
Ability to understand the impact of procurement decisions on product cost, margins, working capital and business growth.
Analytical Ability
Strong capability to analyse cost structures, landed costs, supplier quotations, market prices and commercial proposals.
Supplier Relationship Management
Ability to build long-term supplier relationships while maintaining commercial discipline.
Leadership
Ability to independently lead the current function and progressively build a high-performing procurement organization.
Problem Solving
Strong ability to resolve supply, cost, quality and logistics challenges in a fast-growing business environment.
Communication
Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to interact effectively with senior management, suppliers and cross-functional teams.
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