Procurement Specialist

Company Overview

Hector Beverages Pvt. Ltd. was established in 2010 in India and rose to prominence with its signature brand, Paper Boat, which offers ready-to-drink beverages encapsulating traditional Indian flavors. The company was founded to bridge the market gap for traditional Indian drinks, showcasing India's rich cultural beverages.

Job Summary

The Procurement Specialist will be responsible for managing the end-to-end procurement process of various raw materials for Hector Beverages’ ethnic beverage and food portfolio. This role is integral to ensuring a resilient and quality-first vendor base, thereby contributing to the production of high-quality products.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full procurement lifecycle for fruit pulp, dairy inputs, dry fruits, spices, and packaging materials, including PR/RFQ/PO creation, vendor negotiation, contracting, and closure.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for seasonal and agricultural materials, planning to mitigate seasonality risks.
• Conduct vendor identification, qualification, and onboarding, including audits and commercial negotiations with farmer collectives and Fairtrade-certified suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and contracts while tracking global commodity prices to inform sourcing decisions.
• Monitor supplier performance for on-time delivery and quality, leading reviews and implementing corrective actions as necessary.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Demand Planning teams to align raw material procurement with production schedules, minimizing stockouts.
• Identify and implement cost-saving initiatives through vendor consolidation and alternate sourcing.
• Maintain accurate procurement records, vendor contracts, and management information system (MIS) reports for reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Food Technology, or Business; an MBA is preferred.
• 5 – 7 years of procurement experience, preferably in FMCG, food & beverage, or agricultural sourcing.
• Strong negotiation and vendor management skills, especially relating to agri-commodities.
• Solid understanding of procurement processes, contract management, and supplier performance in a manufacturing setup.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems (SAP MM, Oracle) for procurement functions.
• Advanced Excel skills for analysis and reporting; familiarity with Power BI is an advantage.
• Ability to manage multiple categories and stakeholders in a fast-paced FMCG environment.
• High attention to detail, strong analytical abilities, and the capacity to work with both domestic and international suppliers.

Preferred Skills

• Exposure to food safety standards and Fairtrade sourcing practices.
• Experience in managing procurement for perishable goods and agricultural products.

Experience

• A minimum of 5-7 years of relevant experience in procurement, particularly in the FMCG or food and beverage sectors.

Environment

The typical work setting will be in a fast-paced FMCG environment, involving collaboration with various teams and suppliers, both domestic and international. Specific location details were not specified.

Salary

Salary details were not provided.

Growth Opportunities

Potential opportunities for career advancement within the company were not specified.

Benefits

Specific employee benefits offered by the company were not outlined.