Procurement - Assistant Manager

Title: Asst. Manager Procurement (Band 6)

Reports to: Procurement Manager

Division: Apparel

Function: Procurement

Status: Full time

Location: Madurai

Role Purpose

1. Manage and oversee long-term agreements for C&F (Clearing and Forwarding) operations, including space requirements and BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer) model agreements.

2. Explore and finalize vendor partnerships and pricing for various freight requirements, including:

• Road Freight
• Air and Sea Freight
• Courier and Last Mile Delivery agreements
• Customs House Agent (CHA) agreements.

3. Handle strategic sourcing for indirect procurement items, including:

• Capital Expenditure (Capex)
• Office Consumables
• Professional Business Services
• IT Requirements

4. Drive the end-to-end Procure-to-Pay (P2P) process across all Distribution Centres.

Principal accountabilities

• Validate purchase requests, ensuring price approvals are in accordance with the Delegation of Authority (DoA), and create/update Purchase Information Records (PIR) in VPMS.
• Create vendor codes in VDMS and manage necessary changes in vendor master data.
• Identify and explore cost-saving opportunities, initiate new projects, and achieve the set savings targets.
• Generate purchase orders for all materials and services in SAP.
• Raise requests for vendor advance payments and create tickets for new item codes in SNOW.
• Communicate purchase order and advance payment details to suppliers.
• Follow up with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery of materials and services.
• Liaise with the finance team for vendor advance reconciliation and resolve GST defaults.
• Provide support to end users by coordinating with Customs House Agents (CHA) and freight forwarders to resolve customs clearance issues.
• Adhere to procurement policies and ensure the achievement of all Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Manage audits, including Group Internal Audits and Controllership reviews.
• Oversee supplier performance and ensure continuous improvement.
• Manage agreements and contracts with suppliers.
• Ability to organize, manage, and analyze large sets of data to derive actionable insights and support decision-making processes.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Knowledge and Understanding:

• In-depth knowledge of SAP MM Module and its applications in procurement and supply chain management.
• Strong understanding of the Freight Industry, including Air, Sea, Road, and Courier logistics.
• Expertise in C&F (Clearing and Forwarding) Management and CHA handling.
• Solid understanding of Agreements and Contracts related to procurement and vendor management.
• Proficiency in Advanced Excel, Data Analytics, and the use of Digital Tools for process optimization.
• Deep understanding of P2P (Procure-to-Pay) Processes and their implementation.
• Familiarity with Audit and Compliance Processes related to procurement and supply chain operations.

• Qualification:

Bachelors degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering (B.E/B Tech), or a related field. Advanced certifications in Supply Chain, Procurement, or Logistics are an advantage.

• Experience:

Minimum of 5-10 years of experience in the Supply Chain domain. In-depth knowledge of end-to-end procurement and logistics operations, with specific expertise in managing freight and warehouse processes.

Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent communication and coordination skills to effectively manage internal stakeholders and external vendors.
• Strong ability to analyse market trends and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Proactive mindset with problem-solving skills to address challenges and streamline processes.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and strong analytical skills to interpret data and make informed decisions.
• Driven by a strong desire to succeed, with a commitment to achieving goals.
• Persuasion and negotiation skills to ensure favourable outcomes in supplier agreements and contracts.