Sourcing, Procurement

Job Title: Team Lead – Sourcing, Procurement & Lab Store Management

Department:
R&D / Procurement / Administration

Location:
Ambattur, Chennai

Employment Type:
Full-Time

Experience Required:
5+ Years

Industry:
Food & Beverages / FMCG / Food R&D Laboratory

Contact Detail :

Position Summary:

The Team Lead – Sourcing, Procurement & Lab Store Management will oversee end-to-end procurement, vendor management, and store operations within the Food R&D and FMCG setup. This role ensures smooth material flow, compliance with FSSAI and GMP standards, efficient vendor coordination, and timely availability of all raw materials, ingredients, and packaging materials.

The ideal candidate will be a proactive and hands-on leader, capable of guiding subordinates, identifying new vendors, ensuring COA compliance, maintaining accurate ERP and documentation, and supporting R&D and QA teams in all sourcing and store-related operations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Team Leadership & Coordination

• Supervise, mentor, and guide subordinates handling store, procurement, and documentation activities.
• Assign tasks, monitor progress, and ensure team adherence to deadlines and compliance standards.
• Conduct weekly reviews and provide direction for seamless sourcing and inventory operations.

2. Sourcing & Vendor Management

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new vendors (minimum two per material category).
• Develop and maintain strong vendor relationships for raw materials, packaging, logistics, and consumables.
• Negotiate contracts, service agreements, and pricing terms to ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Continuously monitor supplier performance on quality, delivery, and cost efficiency.

3. Procurement Execution & Coordination

• Ensure on-time sourcing of materials as per R&D and production requirements.
• Coordinate with QA, R&D, Finance, and Operations teams for PO generation, material receipts, and vendor payments.
• Support NPD (New Product Development) through sourcing of new ingredients, packaging, and co-manufacturers.
• Maintain vendor-wise and project-wise procurement tracking and reports.

4. Store & Inventory Management

• Oversee receipt, issuance, and exclusive storage of all materials and consumables.
• Maintain accurate Store In & Out Registers, ensuring MOQ levels are met.
• Enforce COA compliance – no material to be stored without a valid certificate.
• Track expiry, initiate disposal per SOP, and prepare weekly/monthly stock and usage reports.

5. Quality, Compliance & Audit Readiness

• Ensure adherence to FSSAI, GMP, and internal quality norms.
• Support QA during internal and external audits with complete documentation.
• Maintain cleanliness, segregation, and optimal storage conditions.
• Implement corrective actions for non-compliance or audit remarks.

6. Budget & Expense Management

• Prepare and track project-wise procurement budgets and expenses.
• Coordinate with Finance to ensure vendor payments within 2 working days of invoice approval.
• Present monthly budget utilization and variance reports for CEO/Management review.

7. ERP & Documentation

• Oversee accurate ERP entries for POs, vendor details, and stock updates.

Maintain hard and soft copies of:

• COA Certificates
• Stock In/Out Registers
• Expiry & Disposal Records
• Vendor Agreements & Payment Records
• Ensure all records are audit-ready and traceable.

8. Continuous Improvement

• Identify and implement process improvements across procurement and store functions.
• Standardize workflows, reporting formats, and audit documentation.
• Stay updated with market trends, new sourcing networks, and cost optimization strategies.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Technology, Chemistry, Microbiology, or related field.
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Sourcing, Procurement, or Store Management within Food, Nutraceutical, or FMCG sectors.
• Proven expertise in vendor development, negotiation, and quality compliance.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Technical & Compliance: FSSAI, GMP, COA standards, and lab/store compliance.
• Procurement & Vendor Management: Sourcing, negotiation, and vendor evaluation.
• Documentation & ERP: ERP data management, MS Office proficiency.
• Budget & Reporting: Cost tracking, KPI reporting, and project-wise expense control.
• Interpersonal Skills: Strong communication, leadership, and coordination skills.
• Personal Attributes: Organized, proactive, detail-oriented, multitasking, and compliance-driven.