Supply Chain Head

Job Summary

The Supply Chain Head is responsible for ensuring the reliable, cost-effective, and timely availability of materials and finished products across all channels. This role focuses on building an integrated, data-driven supply chain that supports business growth, protects product freshness, and delivers a consistent customer experience. Reporting to the Head of Manufacturing & Supply Chain, the Lead will oversee demand and supply planning, capacity planning, procurement, inventory, warehousing, logistics, and distribution.

Responsibilities

• Develop the supply chain strategy and network roadmap aligned with business growth, channel expansion, and investment priorities.
• Lead the monthly Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process, aligning sales, marketing, manufacturing, and finance on demand, supply, and inventory plans.
• Own demand forecasting in partnership with sales and marketing, improving forecast accuracy by channel, region, and SKU.
• Translate demand plans into production, material, and capacity plans for own factories and third-party manufacturers.
• Lead procurement of raw materials, packaging, and services, ensuring quality, cost efficiency, continuity of supply, and supplier compliance.
• Build and manage a strong supplier base, including alternate sources, contracts, rate negotiations, and performance reviews.
• Set inventory norms for raw materials, packaging, and finished goods, balancing availability, working capital, and shelf life.
• Manage warehouses and distribution centers, ensuring First Expired First Out (FEFO), stock accuracy, safe storage, and hygiene standards.
• Lead primary and secondary logistics, including transporter selection, freight negotiations, route planning, and delivery performance.
• Ensure seamless fulfillment across distributors, modern trade, e-commerce, and quick-commerce channels, meeting each channel’s service norms.
• Coordinate supply plans with third-party manufacturers, tracking material availability, production schedules, and dispatch adherence.
• Drive supply chain cost reduction across procurement, freight, warehousing, inventory holding, and expiry or damage losses.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), legal metrology, GST/e-way bill, and other regulatory requirements across the supply chain.
• Strengthen Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Warehouse Management System (WMS) usage, master data, and dashboards to provide real-time visibility of demand, inventory, and service levels.
• Build and lead the supply chain team, defining roles, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and capability development; act as a key partner to leadership.

Key Result Areas

• Forecast Accuracy: Improved forecast accuracy by channel and key SKU.
• S&OP Effectiveness: Aligned monthly plans with agreed actions and follow-through.
• Product Availability: Higher fill rate and fewer stock-outs across channels.
• On-Time Delivery: Customer orders delivered in full and on time.
• Inventory Health: Optimal stock levels with lower days of inventory.
• Freshness & Expiry Control: Reduced near-expiry, expired, and damaged stock.
• Supply Chain Cost: Lower procurement, freight, and warehousing cost per unit.
• Supply Continuity: No production loss due to material shortages.
• Supplier Performance: Suppliers meeting quality, delivery, and cost standards.
• Warehouse Performance: High stock accuracy, FEFO adherence, and dispatch speed.
• Partner Supply Adherence: Third-party manufacturers delivering to agreed plans.
• Systems & Visibility: Accurate ERP data and real-time supply chain dashboards.
• Regulatory Compliance: Full statutory and audit compliance across the supply chain.
• Team Capability: Capable team working to SOPs with clear ownership.

Performance targets will be agreed upon against verified baselines and approved business plans.

Qualifications

• Graduate in Engineering.
• MBA or Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) in Supply Chain Management or Operations is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years in supply chain management, including leadership of planning, procurement, warehousing, and logistics teams, with a strong understanding of the end-to-end value chain.
• Experience in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) or food manufacturing, preferably with short shelf-life products and multi-channel distribution.
• Proven experience running S&OP and demand-planning processes that improved forecast accuracy and product availability.
• Demonstrated ability to clearly define complex problems, break them into actionable workstreams, and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Proven track record of reducing inventory, freight, procurement, or expiry costs, with results validated by finance.
• Experience managing third-party logistics (3PL) warehouses and transport partners.
• Ability to work hands-on in a startup environment, prioritize limited resources, and build systems that support growth.

Authority and Accountability

• Own supply chain plans, capacity planning, procurement decisions, inventory, and logistics performance within approved budgets and delegated authority.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, quality, sales, and finance teams, sharing accountability for product availability, cost, and customer service.