Thermax - Head - Procurement

Job Description

Job Title: Head - Procurement (Air Pollution Control Business)

Location: Pune

Role Purpose:

To lead the procurement function for the Air Pollution Control (APC) business by developing and executing effective sourcing strategies, ensuring cost-effective and timely procurement of materials, equipment, and services required for project execution, with strong governance and compliance to procurement policies.

Key Procurement & Planning:

- Develop and implement procurement strategies aligned with business objectives and project timelines.

- Drive bulk buying and project-based procurement for long lead items and engineered bought-outs.

- Establish rate contracts, manage e-auctioning platforms, and oversee price benchmarking for strategic categories.

- Analyze spend data and identify cost optimization opportunities using Power BI, ERP, and MS Excel.

Operational Procurement

- Oversee day-to-day procurement of project materials including Fabrication & Critical bought-out items.

- Ensure timely delivery of materials to meet project schedules across multiple sites and units.

- Manage bank guarantees, letters of credit (LCs), and ensure compliance with financial risk mitigation tools.

Vendor & Contract Management

- Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and key stakeholders (CXO Level).

- Develop a reliable vendor base; evaluate and onboard new vendors with technical and commercial screening.

- Negotiate contracts with suppliers and contractors; ensure contract closure, vendor evaluation, and continuous performance monitoring.

- Resolve vendor claims, legal disputes, and initiate legal actions when necessary in coordination with legal and finance teams.

- Govern all procurement contracts with adherence to credit/debit policies, procurement policies, and contractual SLAs.

Systems & Tools

- Lead adoption and improvement of procurement processes on ERP, PLM, DPT and data analytics through Power BI dashboards.

- Ensure procurement records, approvals, and documentation are accurate and audit-ready.

Skills & Competencies

Functional & Technical Skills:

- Strong knowledge of project procurement, rate contracting, and e-auctions.

- Familiarity with technical specifications of EPC/APC projects and bought-out items.

- Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP/Oracle), MS Excel (advanced), Power BI, and PLM platforms.

- Knowledge of commercial terms, INCO terms, BG/LCs, and import/export documentation.

Leadership & Managerial Competencies

- Ability to lead a cross-functional team and manage diverse procurement categories.

- Strong negotiation and persuasion skills for high-value/volume sourcing.

- Drive team performance management, KPI tracking, and people development through structured training and mentoring.

- Risk identification, mitigation planning, and strategic decision-making.

Risk Management & Compliance

- Ensure all procurement activities comply with company policies, ethical standards, and legal requirements.

- Identify risks in the supply chain and develop mitigation strategies.

- Manage contracts, licenses, and documentation related to procurement.

Behavioral Skills

- High integrity, ethical conduct, and accountability.

- Strong communication and stakeholder management across engineering, project management, finance, and legal functions.

- Agility, problem-solving mindset, and focus on continuous improvement.

- Conflict resolution and team collaboration under pressure situations.

Experience & B.E/B.Tech in Mechanical/Electrical/Production with MBA (preferred).

Experience: 15-20 years in project procurement with at least 57 years in a leadership role, preferably in EPC, environmental solutions, or industrial equipment sector.
Exposure to Air Pollution Control, waste heat recovery, or thermal projects is highly desirable.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- On-time material availability for projects.

- Procurement cost savings vs. budget.

- Rate contract/E-auctioning coverage.

- Vendor performance index (OTIF, quality, responsiveness).

- Contract closure and claim resolution time.

- Internal and external audit compliance.

- Team engagement and capability development.