Location: Baner, Pune

Function:

We are looking for a technically strong and commercially sharp Procurement & Supply Chain professional to lead and build our R&D procurement function from the ground up. We require someone who deeply understands chemical raw materials and specialty inputs, thinks in systems, negotiates with intelligence, and is excited about leveraging AI and digital tools to build the procurement function of the future. The ideal candidate will bring together technical knowledge of chemicals and materials, strong vendor relationship-building skills, hands-on commercial negotiation experience, and the ability to structure processes in a fast-moving R&D environment where requirements change frequently and volumes are batch-based rather than bulk.

Key Responsibilities:

1. R&D Procurement Management - Chemicals & Technical Materials:

- Manage end-to-end procurement of specialty chemicals, raw materials, reagents, sensors, electronic components, and lab consumables for R&D and prototyping.

- Handle batch-based procurement - understand that R&D operates in small, precise quantities with high variability, not bulk purchasing cycles.

- Translate complex and evolving R&D requirements into accurate, actionable procurement briefs.

- Ensure material availability is never a bottleneck to R&D timelines - proactively manage lead times, alternate sourcing, and safety stock for critical inputs.

- Develop deep technical familiarity with chemical inputs, their specifications, grades, shelf life, handling requirements, and sourcing landscape.

2. Commercial Excellence & Vendor Management:

- Lead end-to-end vendor negotiations including pricing, payment terms, delivery schedules, and quality commitments - with a clear focus on value, not just cost.

- Build and manage a strong, reliable vendor ecosystem - develop long-term relationships with key suppliers of chemicals, specialty materials, and technical components.

- Drive competitive sourcing through RFQs, reverse auctions, and multi-vendor comparisons to ensure market-aligned pricing.

- Apply business acumen to evaluate total cost of ownership, vendor risk, and commercial trade-offs beyond unit price.

- Identify and onboard alternate and backup suppliers to de-risk single-source dependencies.

3. Process Structuring & Standardization:

- Establish structured procurement processes across requisition, sourcing, ordering, approval, and delivery tracking.

- Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) tailored to the R&D procurement environment.

- Bring consistency and governance to procurement activities without compromising speed or R&D agility.

- Define and enforce procurement policies around vendor selection, spend thresholds, and documentation standards.

4. AI, Digital & Automation Initiatives:

- Champion the adoption of AI and digital tools in procurement - from spend analytics and supplier intelligence to automated PO workflows and contract management.

- Identify opportunities to deploy AI for demand sensing, lead time prediction, and procurement decision support.

- Collaborate with internal technology and operations teams to implement system-driven procurement workflows and reduce manual intervention.

- Stay current with emerging AI applications in supply chain and bring relevant innovations into the team's toolkit.

- Drive transition from manual tracking to intelligent, data-led procurement operations.

5. Data Tracking, Reporting & Insights:

- Build and maintain procurement dashboards tracking key metrics: lead time, spend by category, vendor performance, and procurement cycle efficiency.

- Provide regular, actionable reporting to leadership on procurement health, risk areas, and savings opportunities.

- Use data to drive continuous improvement across the procurement function.

Required Qualification:

- Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related science discipline strongly preferred.

- Degrees in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or related fields will also be considered.

- MBA or equivalent post-graduate qualification is a plus.