Head of Advance Procurement India
Experience: 15 to Not Available years
Location: Navi Mumbai, India
Skills: MS Office, SAP, AI tools, Supplier identification and selection, Supplier agreement/contract negotiation, Risk management, Price negotiations, Supplier relationship management, Strategic sourcing, People management
Company Overview
Sulzer is a leading engineering company with a proud heritage of innovation. Join our global team to grow your expertise and develop innovative solutions that enable a prosperous and more sustainable society.
About the role
Job Summary
The Sr. Procurement Team Lead is responsible for supervising qualified-level procurement staff and ensuring the smooth execution of day-to-day procurement operations. This role supports the implementation of procurement policies and vendor management. This job profile is intended for People Managers of 4+ professional-level roles.
Job Title: Head of Advance Procurement India
Reporting to: Sandi Patil
Number of Direct Reports: 2
Country and Location: Navi Mumbai or Pune, India
Area (Finance or Business Partnering): Advance Proc
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Job Grade (Sulzer Level): 6
Issued/Updated: Mar 2026
Purpose and Responsibilities
Competencies and behaviour required (What strengths needed?)
Minimum Job Requirements
Purpose of the job
• Develop & implement sourcing strategies by analyzing the supply base, market condition in alignment with business requirement.
• Strictly follow SQDC (Safety Quality Delivery and Cost)
• Coordinate between local Advance Procurement teams to ensure efficient support to subregional & cross regional projects.
• Develop special support for High value Low traffic commodities like steam turbine, gear boxes & LOS etc for the sub-region
• Regulate the workload across the advance procurement teams for High to Moderate traffic finished goods.
• Work with relevant teams to evaluate & select the source for assigned category of buyout.
• Improve the sourcing and advance procurement processes for the Factored Goods like motors, seal & seal system, steam turbine, lube oil system etc for the sub region.
• Lend support to tendering,
sales and operational procurement teams in the sub region and beyond (for cross-regional projects)
• Specifically coordinate support for cross-regional tenders out of the AME region
• Manage the supply chain import FGs for India (e.g. Singapore suppliers)
• Lead contractual negotiations with suppliers on supply agreement.
• Help to improve the company’s GP on projects involved.
• Ensure early involvement of suppliers, validate conditions of supplier offer, ensure competitive pricing, scope of supply and accurate documentation.
• Work closely with tendering and procurement functions in subregion and cross region as necessary.
• Drive local & global initiatives tasked by management
Main tasks and responsibilities:
• Lead local team of advance procurement specialist to achieve desired productivity & operational outcome.
• Provide competitive quotations from the vendors according to the requests of the internal customers – following the Rules of Engagement as defined by the company.
• Actively manage supplier relationships & performance.
• Leading yearly cost avoidance target.
• Implement policies, process & procedure within the team as directed by management leadership.
• Ensure strong team building, engagement & development of own team.
• Establish supply chain for the US power market.
Interactions:
• Tendering and Sales, Operational Procurement: jointly assure the end customer’s specifications are met
• Close interaction with operational buyers for the category
• Ensure adequate flow-down of client’s conditions to supplier
• Collaborate with Category Management on the qualification/ disqualification of suppliers
Interfaces:
External: Suppliers – relationship building
Internal: procurement teams, tendering and sales teams
• Thought leadership.
• Knowledge of major buyouts and the supply market
• Relevant experience in the pump industry, instrumentations industry
• Communication skills
• Ability to act independently and in a team.
• Ability to effectively function within the regional and global organization – team work
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to changes.
• Attention to detail.
• Willingness to travel if required.
• Commercial & business acumen
• Knowledge of standard contractual terms & conditions.
Education requirements:
• BE/Btech in mechanical or electrical engineering or similar major. Degree in business management is a plus.
Job experience:
• At least 15 years’ experience in procurement with emphasis on factored goods.
Knowledge requirements (professional, technical, language):
• Good PC / computer knowledge (MS Office) and SAP / R3 (MM / WM module)
• Fluent/proficient in English.
• Effective use of AI tools to on job application is plus.
Decision accountability (What is within the job holders accountabilities)
Own
• Supplier identification and selection
• Supplier agreement/contract negotiation
• Risk management
• Price negotiations
• Supplier relationship management
• Strategic sourcing
• People management
• Leading Local & global initiatives as expected of the role.
Measured by: (Key performance measurements)
Financial:
• Cost Avoidance (primary)
• Completion of Strategic initiatives as per deadline.
Personal:
• Supplier On time response with offers & TQ.
• Supplier Compliance to project specific commercial terms
• Team building & development
What we offer you
• 22 vacation days + 9 days Casual leave + 8 days Sick Leave + 13 days Festival holidays
• Defined contribution pension scheme
• Hospitalization insurance benefit
• On-site car parking
• Subsidized cafeteria
• Long service award
Sulzer is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in the strength of a diverse workforce and are committed to offering an inclusive work environment. We are proud to be recognized as a Top Employer 2026 in Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Switzerland, South Africa, the UK and the USA.
📌 Head of Advance Procurement India (Mumbai)
🏢 Sulzer
📍 Mumbai