procurement head

'

: - ( - )

Experience: 18+ yrs

Location: india

As the Head of Direct Procurement, you will lead procurement strategy and execution across key pharmaceutical material categories. You will develop robust sourcing strategies, establish long-term supplier partnerships, negotiate strategic commercial agreements, and ensure the timely availability of quality-approved materials to support manufacturing and business requirements.

You will work closely with internal stakeholders across manufacturing, supply chain, quality assurance, quality control, regulatory affairs, and finance to align procurement decisions with production plans, quality requirements, and business objectives. The role requires a strategic approach to supplier evaluation, cost management, procurement governance, and supply continuity, along with the ability to navigate pharmaceutical industry requirements and changing market conditions.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Lead direct procurement strategy for APIs, excipients, KSMs, and pharmaceutical packaging materials.
• Develop category-wise sourcing plans aligned with production forecasts, business priorities, quality requirements, and cost objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop domestic and international suppliers based on quality, cost, reliability, capacity, and regulatory compliance.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, supply agreements, contracts, and delivery schedules to achieve competitive commercial outcomes.
• Build strategic supplier relationships and establish long-term partnerships to ensure supply continuity and improve procurement performance.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and supply chain teams to forecast material requirements and ensure timely procurement for uninterrupted production.
• Work closely with quality and regulatory teams to ensure materials and suppliers meet applicable pharmaceutical quality standards and approval requirements.
• Monitor raw material market trends, price movements, supplier capacity, and availability risks to inform sourcing decisions.
• Develop alternative sourcing options and supplier diversification strategies to mitigate supply disruptions and reduce dependency on individual vendors.
• Drive cost optimization through strategic negotiations, supplier consolidation where appropriate, sourcing improvements, and total-cost analysis.
• Establish procurement policies, approval processes, supplier performance metrics, and governance mechanisms.
• Monitor supplier performance across quality, delivery, pricing, responsiveness, and service levels, and drive corrective actions when necessary.
• Partner with finance and business teams on procurement budgets, cost forecasts, inventory optimization, and working capital management.
• Identify opportunities to improve procurement processes, reporting, supplier risk management, and operational efficiency.
• Provide procurement insights and performance updates to senior management, supporting strategic business and supply chain decisions.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• 18+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management, preferably within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong expertise in direct procurement of APIs, excipients, Key Starting Materials (KSMs), and packaging materials.
• Proven experience managing high-value procurement portfolios, strategic supplier relationships, and complex commercial negotiations.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing requirements, material specifications, supplier qualification, and quality compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to develop category strategies, optimize procurement costs, and improve sourcing effectiveness.
• Experience managing domestic and international supplier networks and evaluating supply market risks.
• Strong understanding of procurement contracts, supplier performance management, and supply continuity planning.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with manufacturing, quality, regulatory, supply chain, and finance teams.
• Excellent analytical, commercial, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
• Strong leadership capabilities, with the ability to establish procurement governance, improve processes, and influence senior stakeholders.
• A strategic and results-oriented mindset focused on cost efficiency, material availability, supplier reliability, and sustainable business growth.