About The Role
Manager – Purchase Planning and Operations will be responsible for creating regional strategic procurement SOPs across product categories and ensuring their execution on a day-to-day basis. He/She will also be responsible for implementing the purchase calendar across warehouses based on the periodic demand forecast plan received from the Planning team.
The role will own timely sourcing, vendor relationship management, vendor contract management, inventory planning, and distribution planning to ensure uninterrupted product availability across multiple channels. The individual will work closely with Planning, Logistics, Warehousing, Sales, and Finance teams to ensure efficient procurement and inventory deployment across the network.
Key Responsibilities / What You Will Do
- Develop, lead, and execute purchase strategies across regions and categories.
- Track and report key functional metrics (Ex- OTIF, Fill Rate, Vendor SLA Adherence, Lead Time Compliance) to improve process effectiveness and strengthen vendor relationships.
- Craft vendor negotiation strategies and close vendor deals with optimal commercial and operational terms.
- Partner with vendors and internal stakeholders to ensure transparent contract management and supplier performance governance.
- Perform various cost analyses related to inventory planning and management, What-If analysis, spend optimization, and benchmarking within the purchase function.
- Determine quantity and timing of deliveries based on periodic demand forecasts and monitor inventory levels against warehouse capacity and channel requirements.
- Collaborate with Planning teams to convert demand forecasts into procurement and replenishment plans.
- Drive inventory planning and deployment across warehouses, regional hubs, and sales channels to ensure optimal product availability while minimizing excess inventory.
- Support distribution planning across multiple channels including Retail, Franchisee, E-commerce, Q-Commerce, and Wholesale operations.
- Monitor inventory health through key metrics such as Stock Cover, Fill Rate, Inventory Aging, Slow-Moving Inventory, and Service Levels.
- Assess, manage, and mitigate risks related to inventory shortages, excess inventory, and physical inventory damage.
- Conduct periodic vendor performance reviews and drive continuous improvement initiatives related to quality, cost, service levels, and delivery performance.
- Coordinate with Logistics, Warehousing, and Operations teams to ensure smooth inbound and outbound material flow.
- Manage sourcing lead times and proactively mitigate supply risks to ensure business continuity.
- Lead and mentor team members while driving operational excellence within the purchase planning and operations function.
Qualifications & Skills / What You Need
- Proven experience as a Purchase Manager across different businesses (including Retail & E-commerce).
- Strong experience in Purchase Planning, Procurement, Inventory Planning, and Distribution Planning.
- Exceptional networking and negotiation skills with a strong understanding of changing market dynamics.
- Experience managing vendor relationships, supplier performance metrics, and service-level agreements.
- Working experience with vendor management software and ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, etc.).
- Strong ability to gather and analyze data and work with numbers. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including Pivot Tables, Dashboards, What-If Analysis, and reporting tools.
- Ability to lead teams, make sound judgments, and take timely decisions within the function.
- Strong mathematical, analytical, and statistical skill set.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.
- Ability to work across cultures and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Bachelor's Degree / Professional Certification in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations, or Business Administration.
- Hands-on experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
- Experience working in a high-volume, multi-SKU FMCG, Consumer Goods, Retail, or E-commerce environment is preferred.
- 5-8 years of related experience with at least 2+ years managing Purchase Operations, Supply Planning, Procurement, or Distribution Planning functions.
Why HUFT
- Be part of one of India's most loved pet care brands at a genuinely exciting phase of growth.
- Work in a fast-moving, high-ownership environment where your decisions visibly move the needle.
- Collaborate with a passionate team that takes pets seriously — and has fun doing it.
- Medical Insurance/Perks
- Competitive compensation with performance upside.
Skills: inventory planning,supply chain analytics,advanced excel,vendor management,procurement,purchase planning,erp,distribution planning
