Associate Director

Associate Director

Job Summary

The Associate Director will lead sourcing and procurement activities across multiple categories, including agri products, dairy/perishables, packaging, raw materials, services, and CAPEX. The role aims to build a robust vendor base, drive cost efficiencies, ensure supply continuity, and collaborate closely with various internal teams such as supply chain, quality, and NPD to support organizational growth and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for raw materials, agri/dairy products, packaging, services, and CAPEX to meet organizational needs.
• Identify, evaluate, and develop vendors, negotiate commercial terms, and establish long-term contracts to optimize costs and supply reliability.
• Drive cost savings initiatives through effective negotiations, commodity tracking, and sourcing programs.
• Collaborate with the Supply Chain team on demand planning, inventory management, and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) to ensure uninterrupted supply.
• Monitor vendor performance across quality, cost, and delivery metrics; implement corrective actions as needed.
• Establish strategic outsourcing and supply partnerships for manufacturing, warehousing, and other supply chain requirements.
• Work with the NPD team on sourcing for new product launches and support the smooth scale-up of new products.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the procurement team, fostering collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years of experience in sourcing/procurement, preferably within F&B, dairy, agriculture, or perishable products.
• Strong hands-on experience in dairy, perishables, and grains.
• Exposure to packaging, IT, and CAPEX procurement.
• Proven experience managing sourcing across multiple locations and geographies in India.
• Excellent vendor development, negotiation, and cost optimization skills.
• Good understanding of demand planning and S&OP processes.
• Experience managing a team of 4–5+ members.
• Knowledge of outsourcing and strategic partnerships is advantageous.
• Understanding of food safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
• Educational qualifications: MBA from a Tier 1/Tier 2 institute preferred; strong graduation background also considered.

Preferred Skills

• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Analytical mindset with proficiency in sourcing and procurement tools.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

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*Note: The start date is within 90 days from the date of offer.*