Head of Procurement

Position: Head – Purchase & Procurement

Industry: Plastic Extrusion / Machinery Manufacturing

Experience: 15–20+ Years

Location: Gujarat

Qualification: B.E./B.Tech/Diploma in Mechanical / Production / Industrial Engineering preferred

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced Head – Purchase & Procurement to lead the organization's complete procurement function for Plastic Extrusion Machinery. The incumbent will have overall responsibility for domestic procurement, imports, bought-outs, vendor development, strategic sourcing, new product/machine development procurement and cost optimization, while leading a team of procurement professionals. The role requires a strong people leader and cross-functional collaborator who can work effectively with senior peers across Design/R&D, Engineering, Production, Quality, Planning, Finance and Projects, and translate business requirements into an effective procurement strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Procurement Leadership

• Own and lead the complete Purchase & Procurement function.
• Develop procurement strategies aligned with business, production, project and new product requirements.
• Establish sourcing strategies for critical, strategic and high-value components.
• Ensure the right balance of cost, quality, delivery, inventory and supplier capability.
• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, systems and governance.

Team Leadership & People Management

• Lead, guide and develop the Purchase/Procurement team and ensure effective delegation of responsibilities.
• Set clear objectives, KPIs and priorities for the team.
• Build team capability in strategic sourcing, negotiation, vendor development and procurement planning.
• Review team performance and ensure timely resolution of critical procurement issues.
• Create accountability while empowering team members to take ownership of their respective categories.

Domestic & International Procurement

• Provide strategic direction for both domestic and import procurement.
• Guide the team in identifying, evaluating and developing capable suppliers.
• Build a strong alternate supplier base for critical components and mitigate supply risks.
• Oversee international sourcing, commercial negotiations and import-related procurement activities.

Bought-Outs & Machine Components

• Lead sourcing strategy for critical machine components, bought-outs, electrical/electronic systems, drives, motors, gearboxes, hydraulics, pneumatics, fabricated/machined components and other engineered items.
• Ensure supplier capability is aligned with technical and quality requirements.
• Drive localization and alternate sourcing initiatives wherever commercially and technically viable.

New Product / New Machine Development

• Work closely with R&D, Design and Engineering teams from the early stages of new machine/product development.
• Ensure procurement feasibility, supplier capability and commercial competitiveness are considered during design development.
• Guide the team in developing new vendors and sourcing technically challenging components.
• Support prototype, trial and first-off procurement requirements.

Vendor Development & Strategic Supplier Management

• Build long-term relationships with key strategic suppliers.
• Establish supplier evaluation and performance management systems.
• Review critical supplier performance on Quality, Cost, Delivery and Responsiveness.
• Lead strategic supplier negotiations and resolve high-impact commercial or delivery issues.
• Develop suppliers capable of supporting the company's future growth and technology requirements.

Cost & Commercial Management

• Drive procurement cost reduction through strategic sourcing, negotiation, alternate development, localization and value engineering.
• Establish benchmarking and should-cost approaches for key components.
• Negotiate long-term contracts and commercial agreements with strategic suppliers.
• Monitor procurement savings and ensure sustainable cost improvements.

Cross-Functional & Senior Management Interaction

• Work closely with Production, Planning, Design, R&D, Quality, Finance, Sales/Projects and Service to ensure procurement priorities are aligned with overall business objectives.
• Participate in management reviews, project reviews and new product development discussions.
• Collaborate effectively with senior peers and functional heads, balancing departmental priorities with overall organizational goals.
• Act as the escalation point for critical procurement, supplier, cost and material-availability issues.
• Present procurement performance, risks, savings and strategic initiatives to senior management.

Candidate Profile

• 15–20+ years of progressive experience in Purchase / Procurement / Strategic Sourcing, preferably from Machinery Manufacturing / Capital Equipment / Plastic Processing Machinery / Automotive / Engineering industries.
• Strong experience managing domestic as well as international procurement.
• Experience in procurement of engineered components, machine parts and bought-outs is essential.
• Exposure to new product / new machine development procurement is highly preferred.
• Proven experience in leading and developing a procurement team.
• Strong vendor development, negotiation and commercial management skills.
• Good understanding of engineering drawings, BOMs, manufacturing processes and technical specifications.
• Strong stakeholder-management skills with the ability to influence senior peers and cross-functional teams.
• Should be a strategic thinker, people-oriented leader and strong decision-maker, capable of moving from operational issues to long-term procurement strategy.
• Strong ERP and MIS orientation.