Head of Procurement

Job Opportunity: Head of Procurement – Indirect OPEX

On behalf of our client—a major leader in the Steel, Heavy Manufacturing sector—we are seeking a visionary and high-impact Head of Procurement (Indirect OPEX).

This is a strategic leadership role designed for a seasoned professional who can transform high-value indirect expenditure into a driver for organizational value and cost efficiency.

The Role at a Glance

The Head of Procurement (Indirect OPEX) will spearhead the optimization of large-scale indirect spend. You will act as a primary advisor to the business, lending your negotiation expertise to high-stakes contracts and ensuring that procurement processes are both agile and rigorous.

- Function: Indirect Procurement - Reporting To: Chief of Procurement – Indirect OPEX - Team Leadership: Direct oversight of Category Owners and Buyers

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Functional Leadership

- Strategic Alignment: Integrate with business leadership to define and execute annual procurement strategies that mirror corporate goals. - High-Value Negotiations: Lead the charge on complex negotiations for high-value services and supplies (per the Delegation of Power), ensuring the best possible commercial and technical outcomes. - Market Intelligence: Translate market trends, pricing shifts, and supplier landscapes into actionable insights that inform future OPEX planning. - Process Oversight: Act as a center of excellence, monitoring business-level procurement to identify risks, rectify inefficiencies, and implement best practices.

Operational & People Excellence

- Transformation & Change: Drive the adoption of new procurement technologies and lead organizational change initiatives to boost operational efficiency. - Talent Cultivation: Build a high-performing culture through continuous learning, mentorship, and structured skill development for your team. - Performance Frameworks: Establish and monitor robust KPI frameworks to ensure transparency, accountability, and timely reporting. - Risk & Compliance: Maintain unwavering standards of ethics, internal controls, and compliance across all procurement activities.

Candidate Profile

Experience & Education:

- Professional Background: Minimum 20+ years of experience in procurement (Materials & Services). - Leadership: Proven track record of managing and developing teams of buyers. - Industry Expertise: Deep techno-commercial knowledge of the Steel, Metals, or Heavy Manufacturing markets. - Network: Established strategic relationships with key suppliers within the heavy industry ecosystem. - Academic: Graduation in Engineering (B.E./B.Tech) or relevant professional degrees (MBA/CA/M.Tech) preferred.

Core Competencies:

- Strategic Category Management & Value Engineering. - Advanced Cost Optimization & Financial Analysis. - Expert-level Supplier Relationship Management (SRM). - Rigorous Risk Management & Ethical Governance.