Supply Chain Head

Job Summary

The Supply Chain Head will own the end-to-end supply chain strategy and execution. This role is critical in aligning manufacturing, sourcing, inventory management, warehousing, distribution, and channel fulfillment with business growth plans while improving efficiency, control, scalability, and working capital.

Responsibilities

• Manufacturing Planning & Contract Manufacturing

  • Drive production planning and material availability in line with the sales plan and new product development (NPD).
  • Collaborate closely with contract manufacturers on capacity planning, raw material (RM) and packaging material (PM) availability, production schedules, quality adherence, dispatch planning, and cost optimizations.
  • Enhance plant responsiveness, reduce stock-outs, and minimize excess or obsolete inventory.

• Channel Operations

  • Build robust fulfillment capabilities for quick commerce, ensuring high fill rates, short replenishment cycles, and service-level discipline.
  • Lead direct-to-consumer (D2C) operations, including inventory availability, order fulfillment, returns coordination, and customer promise adherence.
  • Oversee marketplace operations for platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart, with a focus on stock norms, replenishment, and service metrics.

• Procurement, Vendor & Partner Management

  • Oversee warehousing, inventory deployment, transportation, and Days of Inventory Held (DOH) adherence.
  • Improve network efficiency, freight costs, inventory turns, and order fill rates.
  • Establish process discipline for returns, reverse logistics, and stock reconciliation.
  • Develop raw material supplier/dealer relationships and drive direct procurement initiatives.

• Working Capital & Business Finance Linkage

  • Understand how supply chain decisions affect working capital, including raw material cycles, finished goods holding, Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) decisions, service levels, and channel inventory norms.
  • Drive initiatives such as inventory optimization, forecast accuracy, vendor terms, and dispatch discipline to improve cash conversion.
  • Partner with finance and business teams to balance growth, availability, and cash efficiency.

• End-to-End Supply Chain Leadership

  • Define and execute the overall supply chain strategy aligned with business growth, demand volatility, and channel expansion.
  • Lead supply chain teams across planning, procurement, logistics, warehousing, and fulfillment.
  • Build scalable processes, governance mechanisms, and KPI dashboards for service, cost, inventory, and working capital performance.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field. A postgraduate degree or MBA is preferred.
• Experience:
  • 7-10 years of relevant experience in supply chain roles, particularly in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector.
  • Hands-on exposure to manufacturing planning and supply planning.
  • Proven experience working with contract manufacturers and third-party manufacturing partners.
  • Experience handling marketplaces, D2C, and quick commerce operations.
  • Prior experience as a vertical head for a supply chain function or as an end-to-end supply chain lead.
• Skills:
  • Strong understanding of the relationship between supply chain management and working capital, along with practical levers for improvement.
  • Experience leading multiple direct reports and cross-functional teams.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with digital supply chain technologies and analytics.
• Strong negotiation skills and vendor management capabilities.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.

Experience

• Minimum of 7-10 years of relevant experience in supply chain management, with a strong emphasis on the FMCG industry.

Environment

• This is a high-paced start-up environment that encourages innovation and efficiency. Location details will be determined based on business requirements.