Battery Procurement Lead – Opex

About the Company

Waaree is establishing a 4 GWh LFP cell & BESS manufacturing plant along with a 5 GWh Battery Pack & BESS facility.

About the Role

The SCM Head – Opex will lead all operational and recurring procurement required to run the factory at scale. This role is accountable for uninterrupted supply of technologically qualified raw materials, protection of manufacturing yield, and delivery of globally competitive product cost structures across cells, EV packs, and BESS systems. This role owns supply continuity, cost competitiveness, working capital efficiency, and chemistry readiness once the plant is operational. The position is execution-critical and directly influences margin profile, production stability, and supply resilience in a fast-scaling gigafactory environment.

Responsibilities Operational Raw Material Sourcing Own sourcing of all recurring raw materials for LFP cell manufacturing including cathode, anode, electrolyte, separator, foils, additives, and critical consumables Lead sourcing for pack and BESS manufacturing impacting operational cost and reliability Develop and execute long-term sourcing strategies aligned with production ramp-up plans Build multi-geography supplier ecosystems (Chinese and non-Chinese) to mitigate geopolitical and supply risks

Cost Competitiveness & Commercial Discipline Own achievement of target cost structures for cell, pack, and BESS products Develop should-cost models and total cost frameworks for high-volume raw materials Lead high-value contract negotiations tied to volume ramp-up and cost reduction roadmaps Track commodity trends and implement structured pricing mechanisms or alternate sourcing strategies Drive continuous cost optimization without compromising quality or yield

Yield Protection & Material Governance Partner with Technology, R&D, and Manufacturing to ensure all materials are technologically qualified prior to scale deployment Safeguard manufacturing yield by preventing raw material-driven scrap, instability, or performance degradation Monitor material performance across production lines and drive corrective actions with suppliers Institutionalize supplier quality governance frameworks

Supply Continuity & Working Capital Optimization Ensure zero-line stoppages due to raw material shortages Build contingency frameworks and dual/multi-sourcing models for critical materials Optimize inventory levels balancing working capital efficiency and supply risk Prevent stockouts while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory

Governance, Compliance & Risk Management Lead supplier qualification, techno-commercial due diligence, and audit processes Ensure compliance with quality, ESG, regulatory, and internal governance standards Mitigate supply chain risks including geopolitical, logistics, currency, and concentration exposures Provide structured dashboards on supply risk, cost variance, and continuity metrics

Future Chemistry Readiness Develop sourcing strategies adaptable to evolving battery chemistries beyond LFP Build early supplier pipelines for next-generation materials Ensure supply chain agility during product evolution and chemistry shifts

Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Chemical, Materials, Mechanical, or Electrical preferred) 12–18+ years of progressive procurement/supply chain experience in lithium-ion cell manufacturing, EV battery pack, BESS manufacturing, or advanced materials sourcing Deep understanding of lithium-ion battery raw materials and their impact on yield, process stability, and line efficiency Proven experience managing high-value, high-volume raw material contracts in manufacturing environments Demonstrated ability to build resilient multi-sourcing ecosystems across Chinese and non-Chinese markets Strong cost modelling, negotiation, and risk mitigation capability Strong cross-functional leadership with Technology, R&D, Manufacturing, and Finance High ownership mindset with data-driven decision-making discipline

Required Skills MBA / PGDM in Supply Chain, Operations, or related discipline Experience in GWh-scale cell manufacturing environments Exposure to commodity trend management and long-term pricing frameworks Experience supporting capacity expansion and new product introductions Familiarity with battery chemistry transitions beyond LFP

Preferred Skills Have ensured zero-line stoppages in high-volume battery manufacturing environments Have demonstrably protected yield and reduced scrap through disciplined raw material governance Have directly influenced product cost competitiveness at cell, pack, and BESS system levels Have prepared supplier ecosystems for chemistry transitions and next-generation materials