Description

Designation: Vice President – Procurement

Department: Supply Chain & Procurement

Location: Chennai (Oragadam)

Reporting To: CEO / COO

Industry: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) / Lithium-ion Battery Manufacturing

1. Role Purpose The Vice President – Procurement will be responsible for developing and leading the overall procurement and strategic sourcing function for BESS manufacturing operations.

The role will drive procurement strategy, supplier ecosystem development, global sourcing, commercial negotiations, cost optimisation, localisation and supply chain risk management. The position will ensure uninterrupted availability of critical materials and components for large-scale BESS manufacturing while maintaining cost competitiveness, quality standards and delivery commitments.

The incumbent will play a strategic leadership role in building a robust procurement organisation for the company's upcoming GWh-scale BESS manufacturing facility.

2. Key Responsibilities A. Strategic Procurement Leadership

- Develop and implement the overall procurement strategy aligned with business objectives and manufacturing expansion plans.

- Lead end-to-end procurement operations across direct materials, indirect materials, capital equipment and services.

- Establish procurement policies, governance frameworks, approval matrices and standard operating procedures.

- Develop long-term sourcing strategies for critical BESS components.

- Align procurement plans with production forecasts, project execution schedules and business requirements.

- Drive procurement transformation, process standardisation and operational excellence.

B. Strategic Sourcing – BESS Components Lead sourcing strategy and commercial negotiations for critical BESS components, including:

Battery & Energy Storage Components

- Lithium-ion battery cells (LFP/NMC).

- Battery modules, packs and racks.

- Battery Management Systems (BMS).

- Energy Management Systems (EMS).

- Power Conversion Systems (PCS).

- Power Control Systems and associated electronics.

Electrical & Electronic Components
- Busbars, cables, connectors and electrical harnesses.

- Contactors, relays, fuses and circuit breakers.

- Transformers, switchgear and electrical distribution systems.

- PCB assemblies, sensors and electronic components.

Mechanical & Thermal Management
- Battery enclosures and container structures.

- Sheet metal and structural fabrication.

- HVAC and liquid cooling systems.

- Thermal management components.

- Fire detection and suppression systems.

Plant & Capital Procurement
- Automated production lines and assembly equipment.

- Robotics, laser welding and material handling systems.

- Testing and validation equipment.





- Manufacturing utilities and infrastructure.

- PLC, MES and automation systems.

C. Global Sourcing & Supplier Development
- Develop a global supplier ecosystem across India, China, South Korea, Japan, Europe and other relevant markets.

- Identify and establish strategic partnerships with global OEMs and technology suppliers.

- Develop alternative sourcing channels for critical components.

- Drive localisation and import substitution initiatives.

- Establish long-term supplier agreements and strategic partnerships.

- Evaluate supplier capabilities, manufacturing capacities, financial stability and technological competencies.

- Lead supplier development programmes to improve quality, cost and delivery performance.

D. Commercial Strategy & Cost Optimisation
- Lead high-value commercial negotiations and strategic sourcing contracts.

- Establish should-cost models, commodity price benchmarking and cost structures.

- Drive annual procurement savings and value engineering initiatives.

- Develop total cost of ownership (TCO) models for critical components.

- Negotiate long-term pricing agreements, payment terms and credit facilities.

- Identify opportunities for procurement consolidation and economies of scale.

- Ensure adherence to approved budgets and financial targets.

E. Supply Chain Risk Management
- Develop strategies to mitigate global supply chain disruptions and material shortages.

- Monitor commodity price fluctuations, foreign exchange exposure and geopolitical risks.

- Establish strategic sourcing alternatives for critical components.

- Ensure supply continuity through supplier diversification and risk assessment.

- Develop inventory strategies for long-lead-time and critical materials.

- Work closely with planning and manufacturing teams to ensure material availability.

F. Procurement for Greenfield Manufacturing Setup
- Lead procurement strategy for recent BESS manufacturing facility setup and expansion.

- Oversee procurement of capital equipment, production machinery and plant infrastructure.

- Coordinate with Engineering, Projects, Production and Technology teams for equipment specifications and technical evaluations.

- Drive vendor selection, technical-commercial evaluation and contract finalisation.

- Ensure timely procurement and delivery of machinery and critical infrastructure.





- Support plant commissioning and capacity expansion initiatives.

G. Cross-functional Stakeholder Management
- Work closely with CEO, COO, CFO, CTO, Engineering, Production, Quality and Project teams.

- Align procurement strategies with manufacturing and business growth requirements.

- Collaborate with Finance on working capital optimisation and cash flow management.

- Coordinate with Quality for supplier qualification and quality assurance.

- Partner with Engineering for design-to-cost and value engineering initiatives.

- Ensure procurement activities support business profitability and operational efficiency.

H. Procurement Governance & Digital Transformation
- Establish procurement KPIs, dashboards and performance monitoring systems.

- Implement ERP-driven procurement processes and controls.

- Drive digital procurement transformation through SAP MM / S/4HANA.

- Ensure transparency, compliance and audit readiness across procurement operations.

- Establish vendor performance scorecards and procurement analytics.

- Lead and develop a high-performing procurement organisation.

3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Overall procurement cost savings and cost reduction.

- Material availability and supply continuity.

- Supplier On-Time Delivery (OTD).

- Supplier quality and rejection performance.

- Localisation and import substitution percentage.

- Working capital and inventory optimisation.

- Strategic sourcing effectiveness.

- Procurement budget adherence.

- Vendor development and supplier diversification.

- Capital expenditure procurement efficiency.

- Contract compliance and commercial risk mitigation.

4. Educational Qualifications
- B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Industrial or Production Engineering.

- MBA / PGDM in Supply Chain Management, Materials Management or Operations preferred.

- Professional certifications in Supply Chain Management, Strategic Sourcing or Procurement will be an added advantage.

5. Experience Required
- 18–25 years of overall experience in procurement, strategic sourcing and supply chain management.

- Minimum 8–10 years in senior leadership positions such as VP, Head – Procurement, DGM/GM Procurement or equivalent.

- Strong experience in large-scale manufacturing procurement and strategic sourcing.

- Significant exposure to BESS, lithium-ion battery manufacturing, EV battery packs, power electronics, electrical equipment or renewable energy.

- Proven experience managing high-value procurement portfolios and global supplier relationships.

- Experience in greenfield manufacturing plant setup and large-scale capacity expansion.

- Demonstrated track record in cost optimisation, localisation and procurement transformation.

📌 Vice President - Procurement (India)
🏢 Vikram Solar
📍 India