Senior Commodity Lead - SCS

Job Description: Sr. commodity Lead (Assistant Manager) - Indirect material and services, SCS

Position Overview

The Sr. Commodity Lead -Indirect Material and Services will strategically manage and execute end-to-end sourcing for all non-production spend. This hybrid role requires an agile professional who can successfully balance heavy industrial engineering needs-such as machine/CAPEX buying and plant facility improvements -with daily operational management of indirect materials and corporate services.

• Location: Chennai, India (Manufacturing Plant / Corporate Office)
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Department: Supply Chain Services (SSC)
• Reports To: Manager / Senior Manager - Indirect Procurement

Key Responsibilities

1. Capital Equipment & Machine Buying (CAPEX)

• Sourcing & Acquisition: End-to-end procurement of heavy industrial machines, tooling, automated production lines, and engineering test equipment.
• Technical Evaluation: Collaborate with the core engineering team to evaluate technical specifications, Request for Quotations (RFQs), and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
• Commercial Negotiation: Lead commercial negotiations on high-value asset purchases, payment terms, installation guidelines, warranties, and Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMCs).

2. Facility Improvement & Infrastructure Projects

• Project Procurement: Manage procurement for plant renovations, Civil/Electrical/HVAC expansions, and safety infrastructure enhancements.
• Contractor Management: Source and onboard structural contractors, architects, and engineering services while ensuring strict timeline adherence.
• Compliance Integration: Verify that all structural developments align with MNC global safety benchmarks and local statutory regulations.

3. Indirect Materials & Industrial Services (MRO)

• MRO Management: Maintain optimal stock for Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) items like spare parts, lubricants, safety gear (PPE), and workshop tools.
• Corporate & Plant Services: Source and manage facility management contracts including plant security, industrial catering/canteen, employee transport, and waste management (scrap disposal).
• IT & Admin Spend: Oversee localized office utilities, IT hardware/software licenses, and general administrative services.

4. Vendor Management & Compliance

• Strategic Sourcing: Build and maintain a robust regional and global vendor database for engineering materials and specialized plant services.
• Performance Evaluations: Conduct regular vendor audits and performance scorecards measuring quality, pricing transparency, and delivery accuracy.
• MNC Compliance Audits: Ensure total transparency in the vendor onboarding lifecycle according to strict anti-bribery, environmental, and corporate governance rules.

Qualifications & Skills Required

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or Production Engineering preferred). An MBA in Supply Chain or Operations Management is a strong plus.
• Experience: 10 to 15 years of procurement experience within an engineering, automotive, or heavy manufacturing MNC. At least 2-3 years must focus on CAPEX and facility buying.
• ERP Mastery: Hands-on expertise with enterprise software like SAP (MM Module), Oracle, or modern e-sourcing tools.
• Negotiation Style: Proven record of handling high-value contracts and utilizing cost-saving frameworks (like TCO or Clean Sheet Costing).
• Language Proficiency: Fluent in English; working knowledge of Tamil is highly essential for interacting with local Chennai industrial vendors and contractors.

Come join our global, inclusive & diverse team

Our purpose is to improve the quality of life of everyone we touch through our innovative motion systems. We are a truly global team bound together by our shared values. Our culture is built on the diversity, knowledge, skills, creativity, and talents that each employee brings to the company. Our people are our company’s most valuable asset. We are committed to providing an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace where employees of different backgrounds feel valued and respected, regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity or religious background. We are committed to inspiring our employees to grow, act with ownership and find fulfilment and meaning in the work they do.