Purchase Manager

U-Vita Nutrition World; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,400,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

U-Vita Nutrition World in Mumbai, Maharashtra seeks a Manager – Strategic Sourcing & Contract Manufacturing to build and manage ingredient supplier ecosystems and contract manufacturers. You will optimize costs, onboarding of CMOs, and ensure procurement execution across R&D, QA, Regulatory, Product Development and Finance.

The role focuses on standardized botanical extracts, functional ingredients, and nutraceutical formats, with cross-functional collaboration to drive product launches and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutraceuticals, Food Technology, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Supply Chain Management or related field.
• 5–8 years sourcing/procurement experience in nutraceuticals or dietary supplements.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop domestic and international suppliers for standardized botanical extracts and ingredients.
• Assess supplier capabilities, origin, shelf life, and compliance with QA/R&D.
• Negotiate contracts, MOQs, payment terms, and service levels with CMOs and suppliers.
• Coordinate technical assessments, site audits, and testing with R&D, QA and Regulatory.
• Support new product development with sourcing feasibility, lead times, and pricing.

Skills

Technical-commercial judgement

Negotiation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Excel proficiency

ERP/Procurement systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nutraceuticals/related field

Postgraduate qualification (advantage)

Tools

Advanced Excel

ERP/Procurement systems

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION : Manager – Strategic Sourcing & Contract Manufacturing

Location : Mumbai, Maharashtra[Borivali[w] next to platform no.1]

Function : Strategic Sourcing, Procurement & Contract Manufacturing

Experience : 5–8 years preferred

Industry preference : Nutraceuticals, functional nutrition, dietary supplements

Role focus : Primarily U-Vita; cross-functional support to Ambix as required

About the Role

We are seeking a commercially strong, technically informed sourcing professional to build and manage U-Vita’s ingredient supplier and contract manufacturing ecosystem. The role combines sourcing of high-quality standardized botanical extracts and functional ingredients, identification and onboarding of capable contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), cost optimization, and dependable procurement execution. The successful candidate will work closely with R&D, Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Product Development, Production/PPIC and Finance.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and develop domestic and international suppliers for standardized botanical extracts, branded ingredients, vitamins, minerals, proteins, functional actives and specialized excipients.
• Evaluate ingredient standardization, active markers, assay methods, origin, authenticity, batch consistency, shelf life and supplier capabilities in coordination with R&D and QA.
• Obtain and review commercial and technical documents including specifications, COAs, traceability records, applicable certifications and contaminant testing; route technical approvals to QA/R&D.
• Benchmark branded versus generic alternatives on quality, evidence, effective dose, availability, landed cost and supply risk.
• Develop qualified alternate suppliers for business-critical ingredients.

2. CMO Identification, Qualification & Onboarding

• Identify and shortlist CMOs for tablets, gummies, effervescents, protein powders, hydration products and other nutraceutical formats.
• Assess manufacturing capabilities, dosage-form expertise, capacity, scale-up readiness, minimum order quantities, lead times and commercial fit.
• Coordinate technical assessments, site audits, regulatory/quality qualification and trial batches with R&D, QA and Regulatory; final quality approval remains with authorized functions.
• Negotiate manufacturing agreements, conversion costs, development charges, MOQs, payment terms, delivery commitments and service levels with management/legal support.
• Manage CMO onboarding, commercial launch readiness, ongoing performance and backup manufacturing options.

3. Costing & Commercial Optimization

• Build ingredient-wise and SKU-wise cost sheets covering raw materials, packaging, conversion, testing, freight, duties and other relevant landed costs.
• Partner with R&D and business teams to identify savings through supplier competition, pack optimization, forecast consolidation and commercial negotiation without compromising approved quality or formulation.
• Provide early cost feasibility inputs for new product development and maintain current price benchmarks.
• Recommend substitutions only after formal R&D, QA and Regulatory assessment and approval.

4. New Product Development Support

• Participate early in product development to confirm sourcing feasibility, ingredient lead times, availability, MOQs, indicative pricing and CMO suitability.
• Coordinate sampling, technical documents, vendor discussions, pilot requirements and procurement timelines to support launch schedules.
• Plan purchases against forecasts and coordinate with Production, PPIC, Finance and warehouse teams to maintain availability without excessive inventory.
• Issue and track purchase orders, manage supplier delivery commitments and resolve supply-related commercial escalations.
• Maintain supplier databases, contracts, purchase records and periodic procurement reports.
• Use supplier scorecards for quality, on-time delivery, cost competitiveness, responsiveness and corrective actions; supervise purchase support staff where applicable.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutraceuticals, Food Technology, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Supply Chain Management or a related discipline; relevant postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• Preferably 5–8 years of sourcing/procurement experience, with meaningful hands‑on exposure to nutraceuticals, dietary supplements or functional nutrition.
• Demonstrated experience in specialized ingredient sourcing and CMO identification, commercial evaluation and onboarding.
• Working understanding of applicable FSSAI requirements, GMP, ingredient documentation, quality systems and third-party manufacturing.
• Experience with domestic and international sourcing, imports, landed-cost analysis and supplier negotiations is desirable.

Core Skills

• Strong technical-commercial judgement: able to distinguish botanical extract specifications and quality grades, not merely compare quoted prices.
• Supplier discovery, negotiation, contracting, cost modelling and risk management.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with R&D, QA, Regulatory, Product Development, Operations and Finance.
• Advanced Excel, cost sheets, ERP/procurement systems, documentation discipline and structured reporting.
• Ownership mindset, attention to detail and ability to deliver across multiple product launches.