Key ResponsibilitiesNew Product Development

- Bring designs to life. Work hand-in-hand with the engineering and design teams to convert concepts into manufacturable products — DFM inputs, prototyping, sampling, tooling, pilot production, and a clean handover to scale manufacturing.

- Own NPD execution. Run the NPD calendar with transparent stage gates, timelines, and accountability so launches land on time and on spec.

- Shape the product pipeline. Partner with business and marketing to decide the future product roadmap — bring vendor, cost, and feasibility intelligence into what we choose to build, and identify white-space opportunities from the supply side.

Procurement & Vendor Strategy

- Own all purchase requirements. Run end-to-end procurement across product categories, packaging, and components — planning, ordering, follow-through, and on-time availability at the right cost and quality or work in collaboration with Procurement Head.

- Vendor strategy & risk mitigation. Map dependencies across the supply base, eliminate single-source risks, build backup capacity, and create a supplier portfolio that scales with the business.

- Vendor contracts. Structure and negotiate commercial agreements — pricing, payment terms, MOQs, quality standards, SLAs, and penalties — and move key vendors from transactional POs to formal contracts.

- New vendor development. Continuously scout, qualify, and onboard new vendors (domestic and international) for better cost, capability,



and capacity; run structured audits and pilot runs before scale-up.

- Cost & performance. Drive year-on-year cost improvement and track vendor performance on quality, delivery, and responsiveness through clear scorecards and reviews.

Leadership

- Build the function. Hire, mentor, and grow the procurement and NPD team; put in place processes, systems, and dashboards that make both functions run without heroics.

- Cross-functional cadence. Be the connective tissue between engineering, design, business, marketing, and operations — keeping product decisions grounded in cost and supply reality.

What You Bring

- B.E./B.Tech (Mechanical, Production, Industrial, or related); MBA is a plus but not a requirement.

- 10–15 years of experience in consumer products / hardgoods / durables, with meaningful ownership of both sourcing and product development.

- An engineering mindset — comfortable in factories, reading drawings, questioning tolerances, and debating manufacturability with vendors and designers alike.

- Strong business acumen — you think in margins, landed costs, and trade-offs, not just specifications.

- Proven vendor management depth: negotiation, contracting, vendor development, and supplier relationships built over years.

- A builder's temperament — hands-on, structured, and comfortable operating in a fast-growing, ambiguous environment.

- Willingness to travel regularly to vendor and manufacturing sites.

Pay: ₹2,000,000.00 - ₹4,000,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person

📌 Head Procurement & NPD (Delhi)
🏢 Merlin Brands
📍 Delhi