Job Description - Senior Procurement Manager (Raw & Packing Materials)

Location: Bangalore, India

Industry: Spices & Food Products Manufacturing (FMCG)

Reporting To: Managing Director

Experience Required: Minimum 13+ years in procurement (Mandatory: food/spices industry experience)

Function: Procurement, Vendor Development, Strategic Sourcing

Employment Type: Full-Time

1. Key Responsibilities

Area Responsibilities:

- Strategic Procurement Lead the procurement strategy for all raw materials (chillies, turmeric, coriander, pepper, salt, etc.) and all packaging materials (laminates, corrugated boxes, HDPE bags, cartons, labels, etc.) for all product categories - masalas, cereals, and instant mixes

- Monitor market trends (mandi rates, commodity indexes, import duties, crop reports) to plan and negotiate better

- Coordinate closely with production, planning, QA, and R&D for raw material specs and planning

- Operational Procurement Raise and track all POs, manage procurement cycle from indent to delivery for both raw and packing items

- Manage procurement planning based on seasonality (e.g. chilli or turmeric crop season), stock rotation, and shelf life- Ensure non-negotiable quality for all items, especially critical spices like chilli, pepper, and coriander

- Vendor Management Identify and onboard qualified suppliers, especially direct manufacturers of raw spices and printed materials Conduct vendor audits (quality, financial strength, delivery commitment)

- Build multiple vendor options for every critical raw and packing item - aim to reduce single vendor dependencyCost & Value Optimization Run reverse auctions, open bidding (e.g. via Procol or other platforms) for better rates Maintain detailed cost sheets and track YoY cost improvement per item category Drive annual cost savings while maintaining consistent product quality

- Compliance & Documentation Ensure compliance with FSSAI, AGMARK, GST, Legal Metrology, and other food safety & packaging norms Maintain all specs, test reports, vendor declarations, MoUs, and insurance detailsCross-Department Collaboration- Work with R&D on new ingredients, alternate materials, and cost-effective options

- Coordinate with QA for raw material testing, quarantine, and rejection protocols Participate in NPD/EPD projects with R&D, Marketing, and ProductionTechnology & Reporting Use ERP (Microsoft Business Central/Navision) to maintain procurement flow and stock visibility Submit monthly procurement reports - vendor performance, price trends, compliance, shortage reports Work with MIS/BI dashboards to support decision-making

2. Required Skills & Core Competencies

Category Details

- Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of raw spices (GL grades, color value, pungency, moisture) and packaging material structuresERP Knowledge

- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Business Central/Navision is mandatoryStrategic Thinking

- Should be able to align procurement with company's production, pricing, and growth goals

- CommunicationStrong interpersonal skills to handle farmers, traders, packaging vendors, and internal stakeholders

- Integrity & JudgmentHigh ethical standards, especially in price negotiations and vendor selection

3. KPIs & Performance Metrics

KPI Target Procurement savings 5-8% YoY on key items

- Alternate vendors onboarded

- Minimum 2 critical RM and 2 PM vendors per quarter

- Raw material rejection rate< 2% overall rejectionOn-time procurement

- 95% of indents fulfilled on timeMOQ adherence> 90% compliance with MOQ normsAudit readiness100% documentation & compliance at all times

4. Growth Path & Strategic Role

Will lead a team of executives and buyers for raw and packing materials

Will play a key role in cost optimization, supply chain reliability, and quality-first sourcing

Will contribute to factory expansion planning, technology integration, and vendor digitization