Assistant Commercial Manager

Smile Management Solutions; Dhule; On-site; INR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Smile Management Solutions in Dhule is seeking an Assistant Manager – Commercial to oversee procurement across multiple plants. You will drive strategic sourcing of raw and packaging materials, lead vendor development, and manage costs to ensure steady production.

You will coordinate plant purchase teams, standardize processes, align procurement with production plans, and monitor inventory and working capital while ensuring compliance with food safety standards and customer guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Strategic procurement planning to identify sourcing risks and alternate vendors.
• Procure raw and packaging materials per customer specs and approved vendors.
• Lead vendor development, negotiate prices, and manage performance via scorecards.
• Coordinate plant-level purchase teams to standardize procurement practices.
• Align procurement with rolling production plans and customer demand.
• Define min stock levels and optimize inventory to balance working capital.
• Coordinate inbound logistics and monitor lead times and customs clearance.
• Manage RM/PM rejections, ensure corrective actions with QA and vendors.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Production, Quality, Finance; liaison with customer teams.
• Use ERP (SAP/Oracle) for transactions and reporting; validate BOM.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards (FSSAI) and SOPs.

Job description

Job Title: Assistant Manager Commercial

Location: Dhule
Reporting to:Plant Head/ AGM- Commercial
Industry: Home & Personal Care (3rd Party Manufacturing)

Job Summary:

The Assistant Manager- Commercial will oversee and drive all procurement-related activities across all assigned plant locations. This includes strategic sourcing of raw and packaging materials, vendor development, cost management, and ensuring consistent material availability for uninterrupted production. A key responsibility is to lead and coordinate with the plant purchase teams to align procurement operations with corporate strategy, improve standardization, and ensure compliance across units.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Procurement Planning

• Identify sourcing risks and establish alternate vendor options to ensure supply continuity.

2. Raw Material & Packaging Material Procurement

• Procure raw materials and packaging materials strictly as per specifications, standards, and quality parameters defined by the customer.
• Ensure sourcing is done only from customer-approved or nominated vendors as per the agreement or contract.
• Liaise with R&D, QA, and customer teams for alignment on material quality, testing, and compliance requirements.

3. Vendor Development and Management

• Coordinate with approved vendors to ensure timely deliveries, consistent quality, and cost competitiveness.
• Lead price negotiations, develop annual rate contracts, and manage vendor performance through scorecards and reviews.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic suppliers.
• Develop new vendors and alternate sources for better pricing options.

4. Plant Purchase Team Coordination

• Lead and coordinate with all plant-level purchase teams to ensure uniform implementation of procurement policies and adherence to customer requirements.
• Standardize procurement practices, systems, and documentation across all units.
• Conduct regular review meetings with site purchase teams to track procurement status, resolve issues, and share updates.

5. Demand & Production Planning Linkage

• Ensure procurement plans are aligned with rolling production plans and firm monthly demand shared by customers.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and proactively adjust procurement to avoid shortages or excess inventory.

6. Inventory & Working Capital Management

• Define and maintain minimum stock levels (safety stock, reorder points, buffer norms) across plants.
• Optimize inventory holding to balance working capital efficiency with uninterrupted production.
• Regularly review slow-moving / near-expiry materials and take corrective actions.

7. Logistics & Supply Assurance

• Coordinate inbound logistics of raw and packaging materials across multiple plants to ensure timely delivery.
• Monitor lead times, transit delays, and customs clearance (if imported materials).
• Develop contingency plans for supply disruptions (festivals, strikes, natural calamities, vendor shutdowns).

8. Quality Rejections

• Manage raw material (RM) and packaging material (PM) rejections in line with defined SOP timelines.
• Ensure closure of cases whether involving full consignment, partial rejection, or in-line rejection.
• Coordinate with vendors, QA, and plant teams to ensure corrective actions and prevent recurrence.

10. Interdepartmental & Customer Coordination

• Work closely with Supply Chain Planning, Production, Quality, and Finance to align procurement with production needs and budgets.
• Liaison for customer procurement teams for all supply chain and vendor-related matters.

11. Procurement Systems & Reporting

• Use ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.) for end-to-end procurement transactions and reporting.
• Audit/validate Bill of Materials (BOM) for new product additions made by customers.
• Generate and present reports on procurement performance, spend analysis, price trends, and savings initiatives.

12. Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure all materials are sourced in compliance with statutory regulations, food safety standards (e.g., FSSAI), and customer-specific guidelines.
• Maintain accurate documentation for traceability, audits, and customer inspections.