Procurement & Costing Lead

Job Title: Procurement & Costing LeadReporting To: CFOLocation: MumbaiJob SummaryThe Procurement & Costing Lead will secure best-cost, reliable satellite imagery, cloud infrastructure, and API partnerships — ensuring operational efficiency, service continuity, and legal compliance. This role will lead strategic sourcing and vendor management across SwanSat’s business verticals — KhetPe (AgTech), BhoomiSure (InsurTech), and SwanSat (Satellite Intelligence) — in alignment with the CFO/CEO’s operational vision.Key Responsibilities1. Vendor Sourcing & Framework Agreements- Identify and onboard key satellite imagery providers (Planet, ICEYE, Capella), API vendors (IrriWatch, soil data providers), and cloud partners (AWS, GCP, Azure).- Execute RFP/RFQ processes, negotiate competitive pricing, and establish framework agreements.- Secure cloud credits, volume discounts, and scalable consumption models aligned with business growth.- Build a vendor ecosystem with redundancy to ensure zero service interruptions.2. Contract Negotiation & SLA Management- Draft and negotiate MSAs, SoWs, and licensing terms balancing cost and reliability.- Define and monitor SLAs for uptime, delivery, data quality, and support responsiveness.- Conduct regular vendor scorecards and compliance audits.- Manage renewals, amendments, and dispute resolutions while maintaining strong vendor relations.3. Cost Management & TCO Optimization- Drive total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis and achieve ≥20% savings vs. list prices.- Develop rate cards, cost allocation models, and forecasting frameworks.- Monitor consumption dashboards to prevent overruns and support financial planning for tenders.4. Compliance & Tender Readiness- Ensure full compliance with B2G tender norms, data localization, and audit requirements.- Coordinate with Legal and Finance to validate contractual risks and tender documentation.- Maintain readiness for government audits and certification submissions.5. Vendor Relationship & Performance Management- Conduct quarterly business reviews, monitor vendor health, and ensure service continuity.- Maintain escalation mechanisms and post-project evaluations.- Foster long-term partnerships enabling preferential pricing and innovation access.6. Capacity Planning & Data Rights Governance- Collaborate with Data Science and Engineering teams to forecast infrastructure and data needs.- Ensure procurement aligns with scalability roadmaps and technical architecture.- Negotiate favorable data rights, redistribution terms, and white-labeling provisions.7. Process & Systems Optimization- Design procurement workflows, approval hierarchies, and documentation templates.- Implement procurement management systems and BI dashboards for spend visibility.- Drive automation in vendor onboarding, invoicing, and contract lifecycle management.8. Strategic Initiatives & Cross-Functional Collaboration- Lead make-vs-buy analyses, vendor consolidation, and M&A due diligence.- Benchmark procurement practices with SaaS, AgriTech, and EO peers.- Collaborate with Finance, Legal, and Operations for budgeting, risk mitigation, and demand planning.Candidate ProfileExperience:- 6–10 years in technology procurement, vendor management, and contract negotiation, preferably in SaaS, cloud, or enterprise tech environments.- Proven record of managing multi-million-dollar vendor relationships and achieving measurable cost savings.- Exposure to Earth Observation, satellite data, or geospatial API procurement preferred.- Experience with government tenders or public procurement is a plus.Core Skills:- Strong expertise in TCO modeling, cost-benefit analysis, and scenario planning.- Proficiency in contract negotiation, SLA design, and vendor performance frameworks.- Hands-on experience with procurement systems, BI dashboards, and spend analytics.- Solid understanding of cloud models, API licensing, data rights, and compliance frameworks.- Ability to translate technical requirements into procurement specifications.Leadership Competencies:- Strategic and commercial thinker with execution focus.- Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.- High integrity and precision in managing vendor relationships.- Collaborative team player with problem-solving orientation.- Thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous startup environments.Industry Knowledge (Preferred):- Familiarity with ESA, ISRO, or commercial satellite vendor ecosystems.- Understanding of public procurement, IP rights, and data licensing norms.- Awareness of AgriTech, InsurTech, and climate tech procurement trends.Personal Attributes:- Reliable, analytical, and commercially savvy.- Balances cost efficiency with quality and reliability.- Comfortable in founder-led, high-growth settings.- Results-driven, structured, and continuously improving.About SwanSatSwanSat operates at the intersection of deep technology, precision intelligence, and social impact, uniting three powerful verticals:- SwanSat (Satellite Intelligence): A leader in SAR, optical, and thermal data analytics for agriculture, defense, and climate resilience.- KhetPe (AgTech): Delivers real-time crop intelligence, irrigation insights, and yield predictions to empower millions of farmers.- BhoomiSure (InsurTech): Enables instant, automated, and transparent insurance payouts through satellite data-driven triggers.Together, these platforms redefine how nations and businesses make data-driven decisions — turning observation into action, and intelligence into impact.