About the Role:

- Manage end-to-end procurement of fruit pulp, dairy, dry fruits, and other agri-based raw materials along with packaging and indirect materials that go into Paper Boat's ethnic beverage and foods portfolio.

- Build and manage a resilient, quality-first vendor base across domestic and international sourcing geographies (e.g. mango, jamun, and kokum from Indian growing regions; select fruit and seed sourcing from international markets) and Fairtrade-aligned sourcing programs (e.g. groundnut sourcing for chikki).

- Partner with Manufacturing (Manesar & Mysuru plants), Quality, R&D, and Finance to align procurement plans with production schedules, seasonality of fruit harvests, and festival/seasonal-edition launches.

Key Responsibilities:

- Manage the full procurement lifecycle PR/RFQ/PO creation, vendor negotiation, contracting, and PO-to-GRN closure for fruit pulp/concentrate, dairy inputs, dry fruits, spices, and packaging materials.

- Develop and execute category sourcing strategies for seasonal and agri-linked raw materials, planning ahead for harvest windows and building buffer stock strategies to de-risk seasonality.

- Conduct vendor identification, qualification, and onboarding including farmer collectives / Fairtrade-certified suppliers through structured audits, sample evaluation, and commercial negotiation.

- Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and rate contracts; track global commodity and agri-input price movements to inform sourcing decisions.

- Track supplier OTIF and quality performance, lead structured vendor review meetings, and drive corrective actions for underperforming vendors.

- Collaborate with Manufacturing and Demand Planning to align raw material procurement with production schedules, minimizing stockouts ahead of peak summer season and festival launches (e.g. Thandai, Panakam, Sherbet-e-Khas).

- Identify and execute cost-saving initiatives through specification rationalization, vendor consolidation, and alternate/local sourcing development.

- Maintain accurate procurement records, vendor contracts (including Fairtrade/ethical sourcing documentation), and MIS reports for management review.

Desired Skills:

- Strong negotiation and vendor management skills, ideally with exposure to agri-commodity or perishable raw material sourcing.

- Solid understanding of procurement processes, contract management, and supplier performance frameworks in a food/beverage manufacturing setup.

- Working knowledge of ERP systems (SAP MM, Oracle) for procurement transactions.

- Advanced Excel skills for spend analysis and reporting; exposure to Power BI is an advantage.

- Ability to manage multiple categories and stakeholders including seasonal/harvest-linked sourcing in a fast-paced FMCG environment.

- High attention to detail with strong analytical and problem-solving ability; comfort working with both domestic and international suppliers.

Education & Experience:

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Food Technology, or Business; MBA preferred.

- 5-7 years of procurement experience, preferably in FMCG, food & beverage, or agri-commodity sourcing.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

- Cost savings achieved against category budgets.

- Supplier OTIF and quality compliance, including for seasonal raw materials.

- Procurement cycle time (PR to PO).

- Vendor base diversification, ethical sourcing compliance, and risk mitigation.