Head - Purchase

Description:

The Head of Purchase will lead the organizations procurement, sourcing, vendor development, and cost-optimization functions while ensuring uninterrupted supply of raw materials, components, consumables, and tooling required for Company. The role demands strong expertise in automotive supply chains, sheet-metal components, steel procurement, supplier quality, and strategic cost negotiations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Procurement Management:

- Develop and execute the overall procurement strategy aligned with business goals, production planning, and cost-reduction objectives.

- Ensure timely availability of critical materials such as steel, sheet-metal parts, press parts, welding consumables, tooling, and machinery spares.

- Monitor global and domestic commodity trends to optimize cost and minimize risks.

2. Vendor Management & Development:

- Identify, evaluate, and onboard reliable suppliers for sheet-metal, steel, fabrication, and automotive components.

- Drive supplier audits, quality assessments, and compliance with TS16949 / IATF standards.

- Establish long-term partnerships to ensure consistent quality, cost, and supply reliability.

3. Cost Optimization & Negotiations:

- Lead price negotiations ensuring competitive cost structures while maintaining quality standards.

- Implement cost-down initiatives, value engineering, and alternative sourcing options.

- Monitor and mitigate cost escalations in raw materials (steel grades, coated sheets, hot-rolled/cold-rolled materials, etc.).

4. Inventory & Supply Chain Coordination:

- Maintain optimal inventory levels to avoid stockouts while controlling carrying costs.

- Work closely with Production Planning & Control (PPC) and Operations for forecast-based purchasing.

- Oversee logistics, inbound supply planning, and supplier delivery performance.

5. Compliance & Governance:

- Ensure adherence to procurement policies, audit requirements, and regulatory norms.

- Maintain documentation, contracts, and agreements aligned with corporate and statutory guidelines.

- Implement ethical procurement practices and ensure transparency across transactions.

6. Team Leadership:

- Lead and mentor the purchase team, driving skill enhancement and process discipline.

- Set KPIs for performance measurement and supplier evaluation.

- Foster a culture of collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Mandatory Skills & Experience:

- 1018 years of experience in procurement within automotive manufacturing (preferably sheet-metal, welding, stamping components).

- Strong knowledge of steel grades, tooling, welding consumables, automotive parts sourcing, and vendor development.

- Expertise in CRM, ERP systems (SAP/Oracle) and procurement modules.

- Strong negotiation, analytical, and decision-making skills.

Key Competencies:

- Strategic sourcing mindset

- Cost management & analytics

- Supplier relationship management

- Leadership & cross-functional coordination

- Risk management and problem solving

- Strong communication and negotiation skills