Transportation Procurement Lead

Role & responsibilities

Strategic Procurement

• Develop transportation sourcing strategy aligned with business growth plans / Profit Centre
• Conduct RFQs, tenders, reverse auctions, and contract negotiations.
• Benchmark freight rates and market trends to ensure competitiveness.
• Develop lane-wise procurement strategy for primary, secondary, and last-mile transportation.
• Work with regional operations to create return load synergy

Vendor Management

• Identify, evaluate, onboard, and develop transport partners.
• Establish vendor performance scorecards and review mechanisms.
• Ensure transporter compliance with statutory, safety, and contractual requirements.
• Drive transporter retention and engagement programs.

Cost Management

• Negotiate freight rates and commercial terms.
• Monitor freight market dynamics and fuel price movements.
• Identify cost optimization opportunities through route rationalization, load consolidation, and vehicle utilization.
• Deliver annual transportation cost reduction targets.

Capacity Planning

• Ensure adequate vehicle availability during normal and peak seasons.
• Develop contingency plans for capacity shortages and market disruptions.
• Build regional and national transporter capacity to support business expansion.

Contract & Compliance Management

• Draft, review, and manage transportation contracts and rate agreements.
• Ensure compliance with company procurement policies.
• Monitor statutory compliance including permits, insurance, E-way bill requirements, and transporter documentation.

Performance Management

• Monitor key service metrics:
• Vehicle placement adherence
• On-time pickup and delivery
• Transit time compliance
• POD submission performance
• Damage and shortage incidents
• Freight cost per ton/km
• Conduct monthly and quarterly vendor reviews.

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with Operations, Sales and Finance teams.
• Align transportation sourcing with customer service requirements.
• Support new business acquisition and network expansion initiatives.

Process Improvement & Digitalization

• Drive TMS adoption and automation initiatives.
• Implement procurement dashboards and transportation analytics.
• Lead Kaizen and continuous improvement projects.

Improve procurement governance and visibility

Preferred candidate profile