Procurement Associate

Job Title: Procurement Associate IG Defence

Job Summary:

IG Defence is looking for an experienced Procurement Associate to manage end-to-end procurement activities for defence technology, electronics, and manufacturing operations. The role requires expertise in strategic sourcing, vendor development, commercial negotiations, purchase order management, cost optimisation, and supply chain coordination. The candidate will work closely with Engineering, R&D, Production, MRO, Project Delivery, and Finance teams to ensure timely availability of materials and components.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Manage end-to-end procurement of raw materials, electronic components, mechanical parts, electrical equipment, tools, consumables, and services.
2. Coordinate with internal departments to understand material requirements, technical specifications, BOMs, and procurement priorities.
3. Identify, evaluate, onboard, and develop reliable vendors, manufacturers, distributors, and service providers.
4. Prepare and release RFQs, evaluate quotations, negotiate commercial terms, and process purchase orders.
5. Prepare techno-commercial comparison statements and recommend suitable suppliers based on cost, quality, lead time, and reliability.
6. Negotiate pricing, payment terms, delivery schedules, warranty conditions, and other commercial requirements.
7. Monitor purchase orders and proactively follow up with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of materials.
8. Coordinate with Production, Engineering, and Stores teams to prevent material shortages and production delays.
9. Maintain procurement trackers, vendor databases, purchase records, quotations, invoices, and other relevant documentation.
10. Identify cost-saving opportunities through alternate sourcing, supplier negotiations, and procurement planning.
11. Monitor supplier performance and resolve issues related to delayed deliveries, material shortages, quality discrepancies, and incorrect supplies.
12. Support inventory planning, stock monitoring, reorder management, and procurement forecasting.
13. Ensure adherence to internal procurement policies, approval workflows, budgets, and applicable compliance requirements.
14. Coordinate with the Finance team for invoice verification, payment follow-ups, and vendor account reconciliation.
15. Develop alternative supplier networks for critical components and long-lead-time materials.
16. Generate regular procurement reports covering pending purchase orders, delivery status, expenditure, cost savings, and critical material requirements.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Commerce, or a related field.
• 2-4 years of relevant experience in procurement, purchasing, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management.
• Experience in defence, aerospace, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, or industrial procurement is preferred.
• Proven experience in vendor development, commercial negotiations, cost optimisation, and purchase order management.
• Good understanding of technical specifications, BOMs, material requirements, supplier lead times, and quality requirements.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and experience with Odoo ERP or procurement management systems.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, coordination, and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple procurement requirements and work under tight project deadlines.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience procuring electronic components, PCBs, connectors, batteries, motors, sensors, wiring harnesses, mechanical assemblies, and fabricated parts.
• Exposure to domestic and international sourcing, import procedures, and logistics coordination.
• Understanding of vendor qualification, incoming quality inspection, and supplier performance evaluation.
• Familiarity with defence manufacturing procurement requirements and component traceability.
• Experience working with cross-functional engineering, production, and project delivery teams.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic sourcing and vendor development
• Commercial negotiation and cost optimisation
• Procurement planning and execution
• Supplier relationship management
• Supply chain risk management
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving
• Cross-functional stakeholder coordination
• Ownership, accountability, and execution discipline

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• On-time delivery of materials and components.
• Procurement cost savings and budget adherence.
• Supplier quality and delivery performance.
• Reduction in procurement lead times.
• Timely processing of purchase requisitions and purchase orders.
• Availability of critical materials for production and project execution.
• Accuracy of procurement records and compliance documentation.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate is a proactive and commercially competent procurement professional capable of independently managing procurement activities, negotiating competitive commercial terms, developing reliable supplier networks, and resolving supply chain bottlenecks. The candidate should demonstrate strong ownership, attention to detail, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, technology-driven manufacturing environment where procurement directly impacts production schedules and project delivery.

Employment Type: Full-Time

Experience: 2-4 Years

Department: Procurement / Supply Chain

Industry: Defence Technology / Aerospace / Electronics / Manufacturing