Head of Purchasing

Position: Head – Purchase & Procurement
Industry: Plastic Extrusion / Machinery Manufacturing
Experience: 15–20+ Years
Location: Gujarat
Qualification: B.E./B.Tech/Diploma in Mechanical / Production / Industrial Engineering preferred
Role Overview
We are looking for an experienced Head – Purchase & Procurement to lead the organization’s complete procurement function for Plastic Extrusion Machinery. The incumbent will have overall responsibility for domestic procurement, imports, bought-outs, vendor development, strategic sourcing, new product/machine development procurement and cost optimization, while leading a team of procurement professionals. The role requires a strong people leader and cross-functional collaborator who can work effectively with senior peers across Design/R&D, Engineering, Production, Quality, Planning, Finance and Projects, and translate business requirements into an effective procurement strategy.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Procurement Leadership
Own and lead the complete Purchase & Procurement function.
Develop procurement strategies aligned with business, production, project and new product requirements.
Establish sourcing strategies for critical, strategic and high-value components.
Ensure the right balance of cost, quality, delivery, inventory and supplier capability.
Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, systems and governance.
Team Leadership & People Management
Lead, guide and develop the Purchase/Procurement team and ensure effective delegation of responsibilities.
Set clear objectives, KPIs and priorities for the team.
Build team capability in strategic sourcing, negotiation, vendor development and procurement planning.
Review team performance and ensure timely resolution of critical procurement issues.
Create accountability while empowering team members to take ownership of their respective categories.
Domestic & International Procurement
Provide strategic direction for both domestic and import procurement.
Guide the team in identifying, evaluating and developing capable suppliers.
Build a strong alternate supplier base for critical components and mitigate supply risks.
Oversee international sourcing, commercial negotiations and import-related procurement activities.
Bought-Outs & Machine Components
Lead sourcing strategy for critical machine components, bought-outs, electrical/electronic systems, drives, motors, gearboxes, hydraulics, pneumatics, fabricated/machined components and other engineered items.
Ensure supplier capability is aligned with technical and quality requirements.
Drive localization and alternate sourcing initiatives wherever commercially and technically viable.
New Product / New Machine Development
Work closely with R&D, Design and Engineering teams from the early stages of new machine/product development.
Ensure procurement feasibility, supplier capability and commercial competitiveness are considered during design development.
Guide the team in developing new vendors and sourcing technically challenging components.
Support prototype, trial and first-off procurement requirements.
Vendor Development & Strategic Supplier Management
Build long-term relationships with key strategic suppliers.
Establish supplier evaluation and performance management systems.
Review critical supplier performance on Quality, Cost, Delivery and Responsiveness.
Lead strategic supplier negotiations and resolve high-impact commercial or delivery issues.
Develop suppliers capable of supporting the company's future growth and technology requirements.
Cost & Commercial Management
Drive procurement cost reduction through strategic sourcing, negotiation, alternate development, localization and value engineering.
Establish benchmarking and should-cost approaches for key components.
Negotiate long-term contracts and commercial agreements with strategic suppliers.
Monitor procurement savings and ensure sustainable cost improvements.
Cross-Functional & Senior Management Interaction
Work closely with Production, Planning, Design, R&D, Quality, Finance, Sales/Projects and Service to ensure procurement priorities are aligned with overall business objectives.
Participate in management reviews, project reviews and new product development discussions.
Collaborate effectively with senior peers and functional heads, balancing departmental priorities with overall organizational goals.
Act as the escalation point for critical procurement, supplier, cost and material-availability issues.
Present procurement performance, risks, savings and strategic initiatives to senior management.
Candidate Profile
15–20+ years of progressive experience in Purchase / Procurement / Strategic Sourcing, preferably from Machinery Manufacturing / Capital Equipment / Plastic Processing Machinery / Automotive / Engineering industries.
Strong experience managing domestic as well as international procurement.
Experience in procurement of engineered components, machine parts and bought-outs is essential.
Exposure to new product / new machine development procurement is highly preferred.
Proven experience in leading and developing a procurement team.
Strong vendor development, negotiation and commercial management skills.
Good understanding of engineering drawings, BOMs, manufacturing processes and technical specifications.
Strong stakeholder-management skills with the ability to influence senior peers and cross-functional teams.
Should be a strategic thinker, people-oriented leader and strong decision-maker, capable of moving from operational issues to long-term procurement strategy.
Strong ERP and MIS orientation.

Work arrangement
No