Location:
Vadodara

Experience:
12-16 Years TOP Colleges ( Btech/MBA) Industry: Automotive Components / Auto Parts A leading multinational automotive components company is looking for an experienced Head of Purchase / Procurement to lead its procurement function and support the growth and expansion of its 4-Wheeler Automotive Components business in India. The role will be responsible for managing the complete procurement function, covering Project Purchase (CAPEX), Direct Material Procurement, Automotive Components, Indirect Procurement and Strategic Sourcing. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in automotive manufacturing, managing large CAPEX investments for new projects and plant expansions, sourcing automotive parts and components, developing a robust vendor ecosystem, and driving cost optimization without compromising quality or delivery commitments. This position requires a commercially strong procurement leader who can work closely with Business, Engineering, Projects, Manufacturing, Quality and Finance teams to build a competitive and efficient supply chain.

Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Procurement & Leadership
- Develop and execute the overall procurement strategy aligned with the company's business growth, manufacturing requirements and expansion plans.
- Lead the complete purchase function, covering CAPEX, direct materials, components, indirect procurement and project procurement.
- Establish procurement policies, SOPs, approval matrices and vendor management processes.
- Drive strategic sourcing initiatives to improve cost competitiveness, quality and supply reliability.
- Build and lead a high-performing procurement team with clear accountability and performance metrics.
- Develop procurement budgets, annual sourcing plans and cost-saving targets. 2. Project Purchase & CAPEX Procurement
- Lead end-to-end procurement for new manufacturing projects, plant expansions, modernization and capacity enhancement.
- Manage procurement of major CAPEX items, including:
- Production machinery and manufacturing equipment.
- Automation systems, robotics and assembly lines.
- Presses, CNC machines, welding equipment and special-purpose machines.
- Testing equipment, inspection systems and laboratory equipment.
- Utilities, electrical systems, compressors, HVAC and other plant infrastructure.
- Material handling equipment, warehouse systems and plant-related infrastructure.
- Identify and evaluate domestic and international equipment suppliers.
- Lead technical-commercial negotiations in coordination with Engineering, Projects and Manufacturing teams.
- Ensure competitive bidding, techno-commercial evaluation, purchase order finalization and contract management.
- Drive timely delivery, installation, commissioning and handover of equipment in line with project timelines.
- Manage vendor performance, project costs, payment milestones, warranties and after-sales support.
- Ensure CAPEX procurement is delivered within approved budgets and project schedules. 3. Direct Material & Automotive Component Procurement
- Lead sourcing and procurement of automotive components, raw materials, assemblies and sub-assemblies required for manufacturing.
- Develop sourcing strategies for various automotive parts based on product specifications, quality standards, volumes and commercial requirements.
- Identify and develop suppliers for components such as:
- Sheet metal and fabricated components.
- Machined and precision-engineered parts.




- Plastic injection-moulded components.
- Rubber components and seals.
- Forged, cast and stamped components.
- Electrical and electronic components.
- Fasteners, bearings and standard automotive parts.
- Assemblies and other vehicle-specific components.
- Work closely with Engineering, Product Development and Quality teams to identify suitable suppliers for new product development.
- Drive supplier localization, alternate sourcing and import substitution wherever commercially and technically viable.
- Ensure procurement meets OEM quality requirements, technical specifications and delivery schedules.
- Develop long-term sourcing partnerships to ensure competitive pricing and uninterrupted supply. 4. Strategic Sourcing & Cost Optimization
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction through strategic sourcing, vendor consolidation, value engineering and negotiations.
- Drive VA/VE (Value Analysis and Value Engineering) initiatives in collaboration with Engineering and Manufacturing teams.
- Benchmark component prices, raw material costs and supplier quotations against industry standards.
- Develop should-cost models and cost structures for key components.
- Negotiate annual price agreements, long-term contracts and volume-based commercial arrangements.
- Identify opportunities to improve procurement efficiencies, reduce working capital and optimize inventory costs.
- Drive measurable cost savings across CAPEX, direct and indirect procurement. 5. Vendor Development & Supplier Management
- Build a strong domestic and international supplier ecosystem for automotive components, machinery and industrial equipment.
- Identify, evaluate, qualify and onboard current vendors based on technical capability, financial strength, quality and delivery performance.
- Develop strategic supplier partnerships to support new product launches and business expansion.
- Conduct supplier audits and periodic performance reviews in coordination with Quality and Technical teams.
- Establish supplier rating systems based on cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness and service.
- Develop alternate vendors and dual-sourcing strategies to minimize supply-chain risks.
- Resolve supplier-related commercial, quality and delivery escalations. 6. New Product Development & Engineering Coordination
- Work closely with Business Development, Engineering, R&D; and Product Development teams during new product introductions.
- Participate in the supplier selection process during product development and prototype stages.
- Support APQP, PPAP and other automotive supplier development processes in coordination with Quality and Engineering.
- Identify suppliers capable of supporting new product requirements, technology upgrades and localization.
- Ensure sourcing decisions consider product lifecycle costs, manufacturing feasibility and scalability.
- Support new product launches and OEM program ramp-ups through timely supplier readiness. 7. Import Procurement & International Sourcing
- Develop international sourcing strategies for specialized automotive components, machinery and equipment.




- Evaluate global suppliers and identify opportunities for competitive sourcing.
- Manage import procurement, commercial negotiations, logistics coordination and supplier documentation.
- Work with logistics, finance and customs teams on import processes, duties, payment terms and delivery schedules.
- Evaluate opportunities for localization of imported components and equipment.
- Build relationships with global suppliers and leverage the company's multinational procurement network. 8. Procurement Operations, Governance & Compliance
- Ensure adherence to procurement policies, delegation of authority and internal control mechanisms.
- Establish transparent RFQ, quotation comparison, vendor selection and purchase order processes.
- Monitor open purchase orders, delivery commitments, pending supplies and procurement performance.
- Ensure appropriate contract management, commercial documentation and supplier compliance.
- Work closely with Finance on payment terms, credit periods, cash flow planning and working capital optimization.
- Implement procurement MIS, dashboards and performance tracking systems. Candidate Profile
- 1520 years of overall experience in Purchase, Procurement, Strategic Sourcing or Supply Chain, preferably within the automotive / automotive components manufacturing industry.
- Engineering qualification preferred; MBA in Supply Chain / Operations / Materials Management will be an added advantage.
- Strong experience in CAPEX procurement and Project Purchase, particularly for new manufacturing plants, capacity expansion and automation projects.
- Proven experience in sourcing automotive components, raw materials, assemblies and sub-assemblies.
- Experience managing both direct and indirect procurement in an automotive manufacturing environment.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, automotive components, machinery, tooling and plant equipment.
- Experience in domestic and international sourcing, vendor development and supplier negotiations.
- Strong track record of delivering procurement cost savings and improving supplier performance.
- Experience working with Engineering, Projects, Manufacturing, Quality and Finance teams.
- Understanding of automotive quality systems, APQP, PPAP, IATF 16949 and supplier qualification processes.
- Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills and contract management capabilities.
- Experience in procurement budgeting, cost control, inventory optimization and working capital management.
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing procurement teams. What We Are Looking For The ideal candidate is a strategic procurement leader with strong automotive manufacturing exposure, rather than someone who has only handled routine purchase and vendor follow-ups. Someone who can:
- Lead large-scale CAPEX and Project Procurement for new plants and manufacturing expansion.
- Build a competitive supplier ecosystem for automotive parts and components.
- Drive strategic sourcing and deliver significant cost optimization.
- Develop domestic and international vendor relationships.
- Support Engineering and R&D; teams in new product development and commercialization.
- Ensure timely procurement of machinery, equipment, tooling and components.
- Build robust procurement processes, governance and systems.
- Balance cost, quality, delivery and working capital.
- Build and lead a professional procurement organization.

📌 Purchase Head | Automotive Components | 4W | Vadodara
🏢 Wikilabs India
📍 Vadodara