Head - VDC, Guided Buying & Process Excellence

JOB PURPOSE

The Head – VDC, Guided Buying & Process Excellence is responsible for driving vendor development, procurement process excellence, and guided buying strategies to enhance cost efficiency, supplier performance, and procurement effectiveness. The role ensures a structured supplier qualification process, optimizes procurement workflows through digital tools, and strengthens contract management by developing sustainable procurement frameworks.

ORGANISATION CHART

Head – CoE Procurement --> Head – VDC, Guided Buying & Process Excellence

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Responsibilities

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Vendor Development & Management

• Collaborate with category teams to identify and prioritize supplier development needs based on cost competitiveness, supply constraints, and quality standards.

• Conduct market research to identify new suppliers, including local alternatives to imports and OEM supplies, ensuring supplier diversity and cost efficiency.

• Maintain and update supplier profiles, monitoring industry trends and market conditions that impact procurement costs.

• Establish governance for vendor pre-qualification, technical due diligence, and capability assessment processes.

• Oversee comprehensive vendor evaluation frameworks — covering financial health, technical expertise, past performance, compliance, and ESG credentials.

• Implement a robust supplier qualification and selection process to ensure optimal vendor performance.

• Drive site surveys, factory inspections, and reference checks for critical or high-value vendors.

• Develop and manage a vendor database across the organization to ensure access to high-quality suppliers.

• Lead resolution of supplier-related concerns by driving initiatives like Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).

• Facilitate cost improvement strategies, supplier component development, and value engineering initiatives.

• Conduct periodic vendor feedback surveys to assess supplier satisfaction, present findings to management, and address any service gaps.

• Identification of competent vendors

• Identification of various value-added technology to sustains and increase profitability

• Identification of competent vendor for developments of spares

• Number of new qualified vendors onboarded (local/global)

• Lead time reduction

• Retaining the vendors

• Vendor satisfaction score from feedback surveys

• Minimization of orders

Process Excellence

• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, leveraging digital tools, automation, and AI/ML-driven solutions.

• Develop and maintain KPIs and SLA dashboards to track procurement performance and identify improvement areas.

• Periodically update procurement SOPs to ensure consistency, compliance, and operational efficiency.

• Oversee knowledge management activities and implementation of risk management frameworks to document best practices and lessons learned.

• Generate strategic insights to support direct procurement decision-making and enhance supplier negotiations.

• Percentage of procurement processes automated/digitized

• Compliance rate with updated SOPs and risk management protocols

• Lead time reduction

• Cost savings

• TAT improvement

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES - Additional Details

Responsibilities

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Guided Buying

• Enhance and expand procurement catalogues to improve accessibility, efficiency, and compliance with business requirements.

• Lead the onboarding of new suppliers into procurement catalogues.

• Oversee the creation and renewal of static and punch-out catalogues across multiple categories.

• Develop and maintain Outline Agreements across the organization to streamline procurement processes.

• Oversee timely establishment, renewal, and execution of Annual Rate Contracts (ARCs) and Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMCs) to secure cost efficiency and service continuity.

• Maximize the utilization of ARC buying modules to enhance procurement effectiveness.

• Cost savings achieved through ARCs and AMCs utilization

• Reduction in inventory level

• Minimization of orders

ESG

• Implement ISO 20400 sustainable procurement guidelines across procurement processes.

• Integrate life cycle costing principles to assess long-term cost impacts and sustainability considerations.

• Provide solutions for ESG-related challenges, including environmental protection, water conservation, and climate change mitigation in procurement.

• Implement Occupational Health & Safety Management, Environmental Management (ISO 14001), and Energy Management Systems and ensure alignment with BRSR requirements.

• Timely submission of reports

• % improvement in cost efficiency through life cycle cost assessments

• Measured impact of ESG initiatives on procurement and supplier partnerships

Team Development and Management

• Identify training needs, facilitate skill development programs, and enhance team competencies.

• Address team concerns, provide guidance, and create opportunities for professional growth.

• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Encourage participation in team-building activities and employee engagement initiatives.

• Performance Improvement

• Knowledge enhancement

EXTERNAL INTERACTIONS

• Suppliers, Contractors, Freight operators CHAs, Freight forwarders
• Trade Association, Competitors, Government authorities, Customs, External Auditors

INTERNAL INTERACTIONS

• User Departments, Finance
• Internal auditors

FINANCIAL DIMENSIONS

• Savings as per market scenarios and with respect to previous year cost provided by vendor
• Saving across group due to leveraging of Guided Buying and process improvements
• Savings due to vendor management and alternate vendor development

OTHER DIMENSIONS

• No. of Account handled (Vendors/Customers) = 10000 vendor data base
• Digital processes implementation = 2 new technologies / year
• Stakeholder Management for implementation of Process improvements projects

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in Engineering
• Post graduate Diploma/Degree in Management

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

• 20+ years of experience in Procurement
• 8+ years in Vendor management

COMPETENCIES

• Vendor Management and Development (Expert)
• Personal Effectiveness
• Stakeholder Focus
• Networking
• Capability Building
• Strategic Orientation
• Social Awareness
• Entrepreneurship
• Execution & Results
• Teamwork & Interpersonal influence
• Problem Solving & Analytical Thinking
• Planning & Decision Making
• Stakeholder Management (Proficient)
• Business Acumen (Proficient)
• Risk Assessment and Management (Proficient)
• Business / Contractual Communication (Proficient)
• Proficiency in Use of Procurement Tools (Expert)
• Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Sustainability (Proficient)