Strategic/Category Procurement Manager

Role Summary - Strategic Sourcing & Contract Management

1. The Strategic Procurement Manager will be responsible for conducting sourcing events and establishing Rate Contracts, Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), Contract Purchase Agreements (CPAs), and localized pricing agreements for a wide range of categories, including engineering items, safety products, general consumables, equipment rentals, maintenance services, and repair contracts and manpower contracts.
   
2. The incumbent will drive procurement standardization and cost optimization by ensuring appropriate contract coverage across categories and maintaining BPAs/CPAs within the ERP system. A key responsibility of the role will be to achieving Cost Savings and increase procurement automation and compliance through the implementation of long-term rate contracts, price agreements, and catalog-based buying mechanisms, thereby reducing transactional procurement activities and improving operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

1. Category Management & Service Contracting

• Lead category sourcing initiatives across engineering, maintenance, safety, and indirect spend categories.
• Negotiation, and execution of service agreements, rate contracts, and equipment hiring contracts.
• Conduct evaluations of leasing, rental, and ownership models for capital and operational equipment.

1. Commercial Evaluation & Business Decision Support

• Evaluate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), lifecycle costs, and cost-benefit analyses for procurement decisions.
• Assess commercial and economic feasibility and provide recommendations on buy-versus-lease/rent strategies.
• Drive cost reduction, cost avoidance, and value engineering initiatives aligned with business objectives.

1. Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation

• Conduct strategic sourcing events with robust negotiations to secure favorable commercial and contractual terms.
• Utilize spend analysis, market intelligence, demand forecasting, and TCO methodologies to support sourcing decisions.
• Develop sourcing strategies to improve competitiveness, supplier performance, and supply continuity.

1. Compliance & Governance

• Ensure adherence to applicable statutory, regulatory, environmental, and safety requirements in procurement activities.
• Ensure procurement policies, delegation of authority requirements, and compliance standards are consistently followed.

1. Contract Management & Risk Mitigation

• Draft PO terms and Service agreements covering all safety and statutory compliance
• Strong skills in defining KPI s to incprporate in PO and contract s
• Incorporate appropriate commercial safeguards, including Liquidated Damages (LDs), warranties, performance guarantees, penalty clauses, incentives, and service level agreements (SLAs).
• Identify and mitigate commercial, operational, legal, and supply-chain risks.

1. Contract Drafting & Risk Mitigation

• Strong drafting skills to prepare and review Purchase Order (PO) terms, service agreements, and commercial contracts, ensuring all safety, statutory, and regulatory requirements are adequately covered.
• Strong skills in defining and incorporating KPIs, Service Level Agreements (SLAs), Liquidated Damages (LDs), warranties, performance guarantees, penalty clauses, incentives, and other commercial safeguards into POs and contracts to protect business interests and drive supplier performance.
• Identify and mitigate commercial, operational, legal, and supply chain risks through robust commercial terms and contractual safeguards.

6. Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders to understand business requirements and align sourcing strategies.
• Partner with operations, engineering, Design maintenance, finance, legal, EHS, and other functional teams to achieve procurement objectives.

7. Post-Award Contract Administration

• Support resolution of post-order commercial issues, claims, supplier disputes, reconciliations, and performance-related concerns.
• Ensure effective coordination between suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders for successful contract execution.

8. Process Excellence & Digital Procurement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance procurement efficiency and effectiveness.
• Leverage digital procurement tools, analytics, and automation solutions to improve decision-making and process compliance.

9. Supplier Relationship Management

• Identify, evaluate, develop, and manage strategic suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance through defined KPIs and ensure compliance with contractual and organizational requirements.
• Support supplier development and risk management initiatives.

10. Team Collaboration & Capability Building

• Collaborate with procurement teams across locations to share best practices and strengthen category expertise.
• Ssupport team members to enhance procurement capabilities and performance.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

11. Procurement Reporting & Analytics

• Track and report procurement savings, cost avoidance, and value-creation initiatives.
• Monitor managed spend, contract coverage, and procurement compliance metrics.
• Prepare and present periodic procurement dashboards and MIS reports.
• Track supplier delivery performance and service-level adherence. Qualifications

Education :

Experience: 15+ years in Strategic Sourcing, Category Management, and Procurement Operations
Qualification: B.E./B. Tech; MBA or other relevant post-graduate qualification preferred

Key Competencies & Skills:

• Engineering / Industry experience
• Strong knowledge of plant operations and sourcing of industrial equipment (including crushers, screening systems, conveyors, material handling equipment, mobile equipment, processing equipment, and associated spares), along with maintenance services and aftermarket support.
• Proficiency in commercial instruments like bank guarantees and Letters of Credit at the transactional level.
• Experience with imports, engaging freight forwarders, CHA agents, customs clearance, and logistics.
• Proficiency in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) assessments and data-driven decision-making.
• In-depth understanding of safety and statutory compliance regulations.
• Exceptional problem-solving, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage risks, define commercial terms, and drive business value.
• Understanding of ERP systems and continuous improvement.
• Advanced analytical mind, Excel and PowerPoint skills