Senior Head / General Manager FMCG Buying & Category Management

Job Description Senior Head / General Manager – FMCG Buying & Category Management

Department: FMCG – Procurement & Buying

Designation: Senior General Manager / Head – Buying & Merchandising

Experience Required: 20–25 years

Location: Gurugram, Haryana

Reporting To:CMD

1. Job Purpose

Amartex FMCG is looking for a highly experienced and result-oriented professional to lead the complete buying and procurement function across all FMCG categories, including Staples, Food and Non-Food products.

The candidate will be responsible for developing a strong supplier network, negotiating competitive prices, improving gross margins, ensuring product quality, and building a profitable FMCG portfolio for Amartex.

The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in large retail chains, FMCG companies, organised retail, or major buying and distribution organisations.

2. Key Responsibilities

A. Complete FMCG Buying & Procurement

* Lead buying for all three categories:

    1. Staples: Atta, rice, pulses, besan, sugar, salt, dry fruits and other essential commodities.

    2. Food: Edible oils, ghee, spices, packaged foods, snacks, beverages and other food products.

    3. Non-Food: Home care, personal care, cleaning products, household essentials and other FMCG items.

* Develop and implement category-wise buying strategies.

* Identify the right products, brands, manufacturers and suppliers.

* Negotiate the best purchase prices, trade margins, credit periods and commercial terms.

* Develop direct relationships with manufacturers to eliminate unnecessary intermediaries.

* Ensure competitive pricing while maintaining product quality and profitability.

B. Private Label & Own-Brand Development

* Identify opportunities to develop Amartex’s own FMCG brands.

* Source products directly from manufacturers and contract packers.

* Develop private-label products across staples, food and non-food categories.

* Negotiate manufacturing costs, packaging costs and minimum order quantities.

* Work with the quality team to establish product specifications and quality standards.

* Build a commercially viable portfolio of own-brand products.

C. Vendor Development & Management

* Build a strong network of reliable manufacturers, suppliers and contract packers.

* Identify new sourcing opportunities across India.

* Evaluate suppliers based on price, quality, reliability, capacity and service.

* Develop long-term strategic partnerships with key suppliers.

* Establish vendor performance reviews and procurement benchmarks.

* Ensure timely availability of products across Amartex stores and distribution channels.

D. Margin Improvement & Profitability

* Take ownership of purchase costs and category-level gross margins.

* Identify opportunities to improve profitability through better sourcing and negotiations.

* Analyse market prices, competitor pricing and changing commodity costs.

* Develop category-wise pricing and promotional strategies in coordination with the sales and merchandising teams.

* Monitor supplier schemes, discounts, rebates and other commercial benefits.

* Improve purchasing efficiency without compromising product quality.

E. Inventory & Supply Chain Coordination

* Coordinate with sales, warehousing and supply chain teams to ensure product availability.

* Develop buying plans based on sales trends, demand forecasts and seasonal requirements.

* Maintain optimum inventory levels and reduce slow-moving and obsolete stock.

* Prevent stockouts and excessive inventory accumulation.

* Monitor product shelf life, expiry risks and stock rotation.

* Establish procurement systems, budgets and performance metrics.

F. Packing & Private-Label Coordination — Additional Responsibility

If the candidate has relevant experience, the role may also include supervision of the packing function for Amartex’s own-brand products.

Responsibilities would include:

* Coordination with packing units and contract packers.

* Cost control for packaging materials.

* Selection of packaging vendors.

* Ensuring packaging quality and consistency.

* Coordination with quality, production and supply chain teams.

Note: Direct responsibility for the packing department is optional. The primary requirement is a strong professional who can independently manage the complete buying function.

3. Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate should possess:

* 20–25 years of relevant experience in FMCG buying, procurement, category management or organised retail.

* Experience handling multiple FMCG categories, preferably staples, food and non-food.

* Previous leadership experience in a large retail chain, supermarket business, FMCG company or major distribution organisation.

* Strong negotiation and commercial decision-making skills.

* Established relationships with manufacturers, suppliers and contract packers.

* Proven ability to improve margins and reduce procurement costs.

* Experience in private-label sourcing and product development.

* Strong understanding of inventory management, commodity pricing and consumer demand.

* Excellent leadership, team management and vendor management capabilities.

* A result-oriented mindset with a high degree of ownership and accountability.

Preferred qualification: Graduate or postgraduate degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Supply Chain Management or a related discipline. Relevant experience and demonstrated commercial results will carry significant weight.

4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The candidate will be evaluated on measurable business outcomes:

1. Improvement in gross margins across categories.

2. Reduction in purchase costs through better sourcing and negotiations.

3. Growth in FMCG sales and category profitability.

4. Expansion of the private-label product portfolio.

5. Improvement in product availability and reduction in stockouts.

6. Reduction in slow-moving and obsolete inventory.

7. Development of reliable, competitive suppliers.

8. Improvement in procurement efficiency and working capital utilisation.

5. Leadership Expectations

Amartex requires a senior professional who can independently lead the buying function rather than simply execute purchase orders.

The candidate must demonstrate:

* Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.

* Strategic thinking and a thorough understanding of FMCG markets.

* The ability to build and lead a competent buying team.

* Transparency in vendor selection and purchasing decisions.

* A commitment to cost efficiency, quality and profitability.

* The ability to establish systems, processes and accountability.

The individual should be capable of taking ownership of the entire FMCG buying portfolio with minimal day-to-day intervention from senior management.

6. Suggested Job Advertisement

AMARTEX GROUP IS HIRING

Senior General Manager / Head – FMCG Buying & Procurement

Experience: 20–25 years

Amartex Group invites applications from highly experienced FMCG buying and procurement professionals to lead its expanding FMCG business.

The successful candidate will head buying across Staples, Food and Non-Food categories, with responsibility for strategic sourcing, vendor development, commercial negotiations, gross-margin improvement, inventory optimisation and private-label development.

Candidates should have substantial experience in organised retail, FMCG procurement, supermarket chains or large distribution businesses. Strong supplier relationships, proven negotiation skills and a track record of improving category profitability are essential.

Experience in private-label sourcing and packaging operations will be an added advantage.

Location: Panchkula / Gurugram

Compensation: Attractive package, commensurate with experience and demonstrated capability.