Procurement Buyer

Department:
Procurement & Sourcing

Location:
Mumbai

Reporting To:
Founder

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Procurement Buyer at Hello December is responsible for
identifying, evaluating, and purchasing
the best products, materials, and vendor services across
home décor, furniture, lighting, soft furnishings, accessories, handicrafts, and custom manufacturing
.

This role ensures
cost efficiency, quality, timely delivery, and strong vendor relationships
, while supporting both
D2C private label
and
B2B styling & sourcing projects
.

You are the bridge between:

Design → Vendors → Production → QC → Logistics.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Vendor Identification & Development

• Build a strong vendor network across India (furniture, lighting, home décor, fabrics, accessories, metal work, woodwork, handicrafts, ceramics, planters, etc.)

• Scout new suppliers via markets, exhibitions, trade fairs, online research.

• Evaluate vendor capabilities in pricing, quality, materials, timelines, and finishing.

• Maintain an updated vendor database with categories, MOQ, pricing, lead times, capabilities.

2. Procurement & Purchasing

• Raise purchase requirements for private label SKUs, styling projects, and sourcing projects.

• Negotiate best prices, payment terms, and delivery timelines.

• Ensure all purchase orders (POs) are accurate, complete, and approved.

• Ensure procurement aligns with project budgets and margin expectations.

3. Coordination With Internal Teams

• Work closely with the
Design team
for material finalisation, specs, samples, prototypes.

• Coordinate with
Styling/B2B team
to understand project requirements.

• Work with
Production
for tracking timelines and vendor readiness.

• Work with
QC
to ensure material and product quality standards are met.

• Align with
Logistics
for dispatch updates.

4. Costing, Negotiation & Margins

• Get multiple quotations, drive competitive costing.

• Track and maintain margin sheets per SKU/project.

• Suggest cost-effective alternatives without compromising quality.

• Ensure procurement stays within the defined budget.

5. Order Tracking & Execution

• Manage end-to-end order lifecycle (PO → Production → QC → Dispatch).

• Maintain a live procurement tracker for all orders.

• Follow up with vendors daily on timelines, readiness, and delays.

• Highlight risk areas and escalate bottlenecks.

6. Quality Control & Compliance

• Ensure samples meet required standards before bulk order.

• Work closely with QC team to ensure consistency.

• Manage vendor corrections, rework, or replacements if quality issues arise.

7. Documentation & Systems

• Maintain accurate procurement records and trackers.

• Upload vendor invoices, POs, quotations, and product details.

• Follow company procurement SOPs and financial compliance processes.

8. Market Trend Awareness

• Stay updated on material innovations, new suppliers, and industry trends.

• Suggest new product categories and ideas based on market research.

KEY SKILLS REQUIRED

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of sourcing in home décor, furniture, lighting, handicrafts, materials.

• Vendor evaluation & negotiation skills.

• Understanding of QC, material specs, finishes, construction.

• Ability to read product specs, drawings, and design briefs.

• Excellent with procurement & inventory tools (Sheets, Notion, Tally/ERP).

Soft Skills

• Strong communication and follow-ups.

• High ownership and accountability.

• Multi-tasking under timelines.

• Relationship building with vendors.

• Problem-solving with calmness.

• Detail-oriented and organised.

WHO IS THIS ROLE IDEAL FOR?

Someone who is:

Fast, sharp, and excellent at negotiation

Loves exploring markets, vendors, and workshops

Organized with follow-ups

Passionate about home decor, materials, craft

Comfortable working in a high-speed, growing brand

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree (preferably in commerce, supply chain, design, or related).

• 1–4 years in procurement/sourcing (home décor experience preferred).

• Experience visiting markets & manufacturers across India.

SUCCESS METRICS (KPIs)

• Vendor lead time adherence

• Cost savings achieved

• Quality issue resolution time

• Procurement accuracy & timely delivery

• Margin improvement per SKU/project

• Vendor satisfaction score internally

• Zero last-minute shortages