Procurement Operations Lead

Role Overview :

The Assistant Manager – Purchase will be responsible for managing end-to-end procurement operations for pharmaceutical finished formulations sourced from contract manufacturing sites. The role demands strong vendor management, strategic sourcing, and coordination across supply chain, quality, and finance functions to ensure timely, compliant, and cost-effective delivery of finished goods.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Procurement Management :

a) Ensure timely and cost-effective sourcing of Finished Formulations from approved Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs).

b} Negotiate commercial terms and pricing in line with organizational targets.

2. Supply Chain Coordination :

a) Manage the entire supply chain operations — from procurement to dispatch and final delivery at warehouses.

b) Coordinate with manufacturing sites, logistics, and internal teams to ensure uninterrupted supply.

3. Vendor Onboarding & Management :

a) Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers as per compliance and quality norms.

b) Maintain supplier database and ensure adherence to company procurement policies.

4. Production Planning :

a) Prepare production plans as per sales forecasts and lead times, ensuring optimal stock levels and avoiding overstocking or stockouts.

5. Quality & Compliance :

a) Drive a culture of quality and compliance with all manufacturing partners.

b) Ensure procurement activities align with cGMP, FDA, ISO, and other applicable standards.

6) Payments & Reporting :

a) Coordinate vendor payments as per agreed terms.

b) Prepare monthly vendor performance reports and track adherence to SLAs.

7. MIS & Reporting :

a) Generate weekly and monthly reports on reorder status, purchase order status, and inventory projections.

b) Conduct regular PO reconciliations and highlight discrepancies.

8. Alternate Vendor Development :

a) Identify and develop alternate suppliers to mitigate supply risks and ensure business continuity.

9. Documentation Management :

a) Ensure timely collection and verification of all finished goods documents (COA, BMR, Invoices, Test Reports, etc.) from suppliers.

b) Maintain documentation for audits and regulatory purposes.

10. Agreement Closure :

a)Coordinate with legal and manufacturers for closure of supplier agreements and renewals.

Required Skill Sets :

1. Minimum 6years of experience in pharmaceutical procurement, preferably in Finished Goods, APIs, Raw Materials, or Packaging Materials.

2. Strong understanding of pharma supply chain operations, including CMOs and regulatory requirements.

3. Leadership qualities to motivate and guide cross-functional teams toward achieving procurement KPIs.

4. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) for data analysis, reporting, and presentations.

5. Knowledge of FDA, cGMP, ISO, and other regulatory frameworks relevant to procurement.

6. Excellent negotiation, organizational, and communication skills.

7. Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

8. Analytical mindset for cost optimization, supplier evaluation, and risk assessment.

9. Exposure to ERP systems (SAP / Oracle / Tally ERP) will be an added advantage.