About the Prospect

Our client is a growth-stage pharma/nutraceuticals manufacturing company experiencing rapid business expansion. The existing procurement team structure (1+3) is under significant stress due to scale-up demands. With a key team member retiring in September 2026, the company is proactively seeking a seasoned procurement leader who can revitalize, restructure, and elevate the department to meet current and future business demands.

This is a leadership and transformation mandate not just a functional role.

Role Purpose The Head of Procurement will lead the end-to-end procurement function covering raw materials, natural/herbal ingredients, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), chemicals, and packaging materials. The incumbent will be responsible for building a high-performing procurement team, driving cost efficiency, ensuring supply continuity, and managing vendor relationships across India (70%) and international markets (30%).

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Procurement Leadership

- Own and drive the procurement strategy aligned with business growth objectives
- Manage an annual purchase portfolio of approximately 20 Crores across raw materials, packing materials, APIs, natural ingredients, and chemicals
- Develop and implement sourcing strategies for India-centric (70%) and international (30%) supply chains
- Lead vendor identification, qualification, negotiation, and long-term relationship management

Team Building & People Leadership

- Inherit and energize the current 1+3 team structure driving performance, capability upgrade, and accountability
- Potentially restructure the team with 2–3 strategic additions to support business growth
- Mentor and develop team members handling specialized categories:



natural ingredients, chemicals, and packaging
- Set KPIs, conduct performance reviews, and build a culture of ownership and continuous improvement

Category Management

- Natural & Herbal Ingredients: Sourcing of botanical raw materials, herbal extracts, and specialty natural inputs (including North-East specialty produce)
- APIs & Chemicals: Pharma-grade chemical procurement with compliance to GMP/regulatory standards
- Packaging Materials: Primary and secondary packaging procurement — ensuring quality, cost, and lead-time targets are met

Vendor & Supplier Management

- Develop and maintain a robust Approved Vendor List (AVL) across all categories
- Lead supplier audits, qualification, and periodic reviews in coordination with QA teams
- Negotiate commercial terms — pricing, payment terms, lead times, and SLAs
- Build alternate sourcing and contingency supply plans to mitigate supply risk

Compliance & Quality

- Ensure all procurement activities comply with pharma regulatory requirements (Schedule M, GMP, GDP)
- Coordinate with QA/QC for vendor approval and material release processes
- Maintain documentation and audit trails as per regulatory requirements

Cost Optimization & Analytics

- Drive year-on-year savings through strategic sourcing, consolidation, and process improvements




- Provide regular MIS on procurement KPIs — cost savings, fill rate, lead times, and vendor performance
- Use data-driven decision making for category planning and demand forecasting

Ideal Candidate Profile

Experience

- 12–18 years of progressive procurement experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership/managerial role
- Mandatory: Background in Pharma, Nutraceuticals, Herbal/Ayurvedic, or related Life Sciences manufacturing
- Demonstrated experience managing procurement budgets of 15–25 Crores or above
- Prior experience managing both domestic (India) and international procurement preferred

Functional Skills

- Deep expertise in sourcing raw materials, APIs, natural ingredients, and packaging materials
- Strong commercial acumen — negotiation, contract management, and supplier development
- Familiarity with pharma regulatory environment (GMP, Schedule M, FDA/WHO-GMP a plus)
- Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP/Oracle/Tally) for procurement and inventory management
- Understanding of import/export documentation and international trade compliance

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies

- Team Builder: Proven ability to build, coach, and scale procurement teams
- Problem Solver: Ability to quickly assess and resolve supply chain challenges under pressure
- Ownership Mindset: Operates with full accountability for results, not just processes
- Stakeholder Management: Works effectively across QA, Production, Finance, and Leadership
- Adaptability: Comfortable scaling up rapidly in a growth-oriented environment

Education

- B.Sc. / B.Pharm / B.E. (Chemical) or equivalent technical degree
- MBA in Supply Chain / Operations preferred

📌 Head of Procurement - Nautraceuticals/ Ayurvedic/Herbal- Mumbai
🏢 Freelance Recruiter
📍 Mumbai