Head- VDC Guided Buying And Process Excellence

GMR Group; India; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

GMR Group seeks a seasoned Head – VDC, Guided Buying & Process Excellence to lead vendor development, procurement process excellence, and guided buying strategies. You will optimize supplier performance, enhance cost efficiency, and strengthen contract management across the organization.

The role requires extensive experience in procurement, governance, and ESG alignment, with a focus on digital tools and risk-mitigated supplier performance.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience in procurement.
• Proven vendor development and management capabilities.
• Strong governance, due-diligence, and ESG credentials.

Responsibilities

• Lead vendor development and management across categories.
• Drive guided buying strategies to optimize cost, quality, and lead times.
• Establish supplier qualification, evaluation, and risk-management processes.
• Oversee procurement digitalization, KPI dashboards, and SOP updates.
• Manage ARCs/AMCs, catalogues, and life cycle cost approaches.
• Foster team development and cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Vendor management

Stakeholder focus

Strategic orientation

Execution & results

Risk management

Contract management

Education

Engineering degree

Postgraduate management qualification

Job description

Job Description:

JOB PURPOSE

The Head – VDC, Guided Buying & Process Excellence is responsible for driving vendor development, procurement process excellence, and guided buying strategies to enhance cost efficiency, supplier performance, and procurement effectiveness. The role ensures a structured supplier qualification process, optimizes procurement workflows through digital tools, and strengthens contract management by developing sustainable procurement frameworks.

ORGANISATION CHART

Head â CoE Procurement --> Head â VDC, Guided Buying & Process Excellence

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Vendor Development & Management

• Collaborate with category teams to identify and prioritize supplier development needs based on cost competitiveness, supply constraints, and quality standards.
• Conduct market research to identify new suppliers, including local alternatives to imports and OEM supplies, ensuring supplier diversity and cost efficiency.
• Maintain and update supplier profiles, monitoring industry trends and market conditions that impact procurement costs.
• Establish governance for vendor pre-qualification, technical due diligence, and capability assessment processes.
• Oversee comprehensive vendor evaluation frameworks â covering financial health, technical expertise, past performance, compliance, and ESG credentials.
• Implement a robust supplier qualification and selection process to ensure optimal vendor performance.
• Drive site surveys, factory inspections, and reference checks for critical or high-value vendors.
• Develop and manage a vendor database across the organization to ensure access to high-quality suppliers.
• Lead resolution of supplier-related concerns by driving initiatives like Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).
• Facilitate cost improvement strategies, supplier component development, and value engineering initiatives.
• Conduct periodic vendor feedback surveys to assess supplier satisfaction, present findings to management, and address any service gaps.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Identification of competent vendors
• Identification of various value-added technology to sustains and increase profitability
• Identification of competent vendor for developments of spares
• Number of new qualified vendors onboarded (local/global)
• Lead time reduction
• Retaining the vendors
• Vendor satisfaction score from feedback surveys
• Minimization of orders

Process Excellence

• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, leveraging digital tools, automation, and AI/ML-driven solutions.
• Develop and maintain KPIs and SLA dashboards to track procurement performance and identify improvement areas.
• Periodically update procurement SOPs to ensure consistency, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Oversee knowledge management activities and implementation of risk management frameworks to document best practices and lessons learned.
• Generate strategic insights to support direct procurement decision-making and enhance supplier negotiations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Percentage of procurement processes automated/digitized
• Compliance rate with updated SOPs and risk management protocols
• Lead time reduction
• Cost savings
• TAT improvement

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES - Additional Details

Guided Buying

• Enhance and expand procurement catalogues to improve accessibility, efficiency, and compliance with business requirements.
• Lead the onboarding of new suppliers into procurement catalogues.
• Oversee the creation and renewal of static and punch-out catalogues across multiple categories.
• Develop and maintain Outline Agreements across the organization to streamline procurement processes.
• Oversee timely establishment, renewal, and execution of Annual Rate Contracts (ARCs) and Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMCs) to secure cost efficiency and service continuity.
• Maximize the utilization of ARC buying modules to enhance procurement effectiveness.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Cost savings achieved through ARCs and AMCs utilization
• Reduction in inventory level
• Minimization of orders

ESG

• Implement ISO 20400 sustainable procurement guidelines across procurement processes.
• Integrate life cycle costing principles to assess long-term cost impacts and sustainability considerations.
• Provide solutions for ESG-related challenges, including environmental protection, water conservation, and climate change mitigation in procurement.
• Implement Occupational Health & Safety Management, Environmental Management (ISO 14001), and Energy Management Systems and ensure alignment with BRSR requirements.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Timely submission of reports
• % improvement in cost efficiency through life cycle cost assessments
• Measured impact of ESG initiatives on procurement and supplier partnerships

Team Development and Management

• Identify training needs, facilitate skill development programs, and enhance team competencies.
• Address team concerns, provide guidance, and create opportunities for professional growth.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Encourage participation in team-building activities and employee engagement initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Performance Improvement
• Knowledge enhancement

EXTERNAL INTERACTIONS

• Suppliers, Contractors, Freight operators CHAs, Freight forwarders
• Trade Association, Competitors, Government authorities, Customs, External Auditors

INTERNAL INTERACTIONS

• User Departments, Finance
• Internal auditors

FINANCIAL DIMENSIONS

• Savings as per market scenarios and with respect to previous year cost provided by vendor
• Saving across group due to leveraging of Guided Buying and process improvements
• Savings due to vendor management and alternate vendor development

OTHER DIMENSIONS

• No. of Account handled (Vendors/Customers) = 10000 vendor data base
• Digital processes implementation = 2 new technologies / year
• Stakeholder Management for implementation of Process improvements projects

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in Engineering
• Post graduate Diploma/Degree in Management

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

• 20+ years of experience in Procurement
• 8+ years in Vendor management

COMPETENCIES

• Vendor Management and Development (Expert)
• Personal Effectiveness
• Stakeholder Focus
• Networking
• Capability Building
• Strategic Orientation
• Social Awareness
• Entrepreneurship
• Execution & Results
• Teamwork & Interpersonal influence
• Problem Solving & Analytical Thinking
• Planning & Decision Making
• Stakeholder Management (Proficient)
• Business Acumen (Proficient)
• Risk Assessment and Management (Proficient)
• Business / Contractual Communication (Proficient)
• Proficiency in Use of Procurement Tools (Expert)
• Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Sustainability (Proficient)

Requirements: