Purchase Manager

Kidzonia International Preschool; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Kidzonia International Preschool & Day Care seeks a Purchase Manager to plan, manage, and control all procurement activities across its centers. You will build strong vendor relationships, negotiate terms, and implement cost-saving strategies while ensuring quality and on-time delivery across multiple centres.

Ideal candidates have 5–8 years in procurement or supply chain, experience with educational or multi-location operations, and a track record of process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or related field.
• Master's Degree in Management, Supply Chain, or Procurement preferred.
• Professional certifications in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or Materials Management will be an added advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement procurement strategies aligned with organizational requirements and growth plans.
• Forecast procurement needs based on center requirements, expansion plans, and operational demands.
• Establish procurement policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Ensure timely availability of materials and services across all centers.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and cost optimization.
• Manage end-to-end procurement activities from requisition to delivery.
• Review and process purchase requests from centers and departments.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders in accordance with company policies.
• Ensure procurement activities are completed within defined timelines.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to understand procurement requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard qualified vendors and suppliers.
• Develop and maintain a reliable vendor database.
• Conduct vendor performance evaluations periodically.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, service levels, and contractual agreements.
• Build long-term relationships with strategic suppliers.
• Negotiate competitive rates to achieve cost savings.
• Monitor procurement expenditures against approved budgets.
• Identify alternative sourcing options without compromising quality.
• Analyze procurement trends and recommend cost-control measures.
• Support management in achieving procurement efficiency targets.
• Coordinate with centers to monitor inventory levels.
• Ensure optimum stock levels are maintained to avoid shortages or overstocking.
• Monitor consumption patterns and procurement planning.
• Support inventory audits and stock verification exercises.
• Implement inventory control measures and best practices.
• Procure educational materials, learning aids, toys, books, classroom resources, and activity materials.
• Coordinate procurement of daycare and preschool operational supplies.
• Ensure all purchased materials meet child safety and quality standards.
• Support procurement requirements for center events, activities, and special programs.
• Coordinate procurement of furniture, fixtures, equipment, and maintenance-related items.
• Support new center setup projects by ensuring timely procurement of required resources.
• Coordinate with Admin and Maintenance teams for infrastructure-related purchases.
• Monitor quality and specifications of procured items.
• Maintain complete procurement documentation and records.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and approval processes.
• Track purchase orders, quotations, contracts, and supplier agreements.
• Maintain records for audits and management reviews.
• Ensure transparency and accountability in procurement activities.
• Coordinate with Accounts for timely processing of vendor invoices and payments.
• Verify invoices against purchase orders and delivery records.
• Resolve discrepancies related to billing, deliveries, and supplier claims.
• Maintain positive vendor relationships through efficient coordination.
• Prepare periodic procurement MIS reports for management.
• Analyze purchasing trends, supplier performance, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Monitor procurement KPIs and service levels.
• Present procurement insights and recommendations to management.
• Support procurement activities for new center launches and expansion projects.
• Coordinate sourcing and delivery of furniture, educational materials, equipment, and operational supplies.
• Ensure procurement readiness before center commencement.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams during setup and launch phases.
• Promote Kidzonia's values of care, quality, integrity, and professionalism.
• Ensure procurement decisions support child safety and educational excellence.
• Maintain ethical procurement practices and transparency in all dealings.
• Support initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and parent confidence.

Skills

Vendor management

Negotiation

Coordination

Communication

MS Office

ERP/Procurement systems

Analytical thinking

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Commerce or related field

Master's Degree in Management or Supply Chain

Tools

ERP/Procurement Software

Vendor Management System

Job description

The Purchase Manager is responsible for planning, managing, and controlling all procurement activities for Kidzonia International Preschool & Day Care. The role ensures timely and cost-effective procurement of materials, equipment, educational resources, stationery, housekeeping supplies, furniture, and other operational requirements while maintaining quality standards and supporting uninterrupted center operations. The Purchase Manager will establish strong vendor relationships, optimize procurement costs, and ensure compliance with organizational policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement procurement strategies aligned with organizational requirements and growth plans.
• Forecast procurement needs based on center requirements, expansion plans, and operational demands.
• Establish procurement policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Ensure timely availability of materials and services across all centers.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and cost optimization.

2. Purchase Management

• Manage end-to-end procurement activities from requisition to delivery.
• Review and process purchase requests from centers and departments.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders in accordance with company policies.
• Ensure procurement activities are completed within defined timelines.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to understand procurement requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard qualified vendors and suppliers.
• Develop and maintain a reliable vendor database.
• Conduct vendor performance evaluations periodically.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, service levels, and contractual agreements.
• Build long-term relationships with strategic suppliers.

4. Cost Optimization & Budget Control

• Negotiate competitive rates to achieve cost savings.
• Monitor procurement expenditures against approved budgets.
• Identify alternative sourcing options without compromising quality.
• Analyze procurement trends and recommend cost-control measures.
• Support management in achieving procurement efficiency targets.

5. Inventory & Stock Management

• Coordinate with centers to monitor inventory levels.
• Ensure optimum stock levels are maintained to avoid shortages or overstocking.
• Monitor consumption patterns and procurement planning.
• Support inventory audits and stock verification exercises.
• Implement inventory control measures and best practices.

6. Educational & Operational Procurement

• Procure educational materials, learning aids, toys, books, classroom resources, and activity materials.
• Coordinate procurement of daycare and preschool operational supplies.
• Ensure all purchased materials meet child safety and quality standards.
• Support procurement requirements for center events, activities, and special programs.

7. Facility & Infrastructure Procurement

• Coordinate procurement of furniture, fixtures, equipment, and maintenance-related items.
• Support new center setup projects by ensuring timely procurement of required resources.
• Coordinate with Admin and Maintenance teams for infrastructure-related purchases.
• Monitor quality and specifications of procured items.

8. Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain complete procurement documentation and records.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and approval processes.
• Track purchase orders, quotations, contracts, and supplier agreements.
• Maintain records for audits and management reviews.
• Ensure transparency and accountability in procurement activities.
• Coordinate with Accounts for timely processing of vendor invoices and payments.
• Verify invoices against purchase orders and delivery records.
• Resolve discrepancies related to billing, deliveries, and supplier claims.
• Maintain positive vendor relationships through efficient coordination.

10. Procurement Reporting & Analytics

• Prepare periodic procurement MIS reports for management.
• Analyze purchasing trends, supplier performance, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Monitor procurement KPIs and service levels.
• Present procurement insights and recommendations to management.

11. New Center Setup Support

• Support procurement activities for new center launches and expansion projects.
• Coordinate sourcing and delivery of furniture, educational materials, equipment, and operational supplies.
• Ensure procurement readiness before center commencement.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams during setup and launch phases.
• Promote Kidzonia's values of care, quality, integrity, and professionalism.
• Ensure procurement decisions support child safety and educational excellence.
• Maintain ethical procurement practices and transparency in all dealings.
• Support initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and parent confidence.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or related field.
• Master's Degree in Management, Supply Chain, or Procurement preferred.
• Professional certifications in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or Materials Management will be an added advantage.

Experience

• 5–8 years of experience in Procurement, Purchase, Supply Chain, or Vendor Management.
• Experience in schools, preschools, educational institutions, retail chains, healthcare, hospitality, or service industries will be preferred.
• Experience handling multi-location procurement operations is desirable.
• Procurement and Purchase Management.
• Vendor Development and Relationship Management.
• Negotiation and Cost Optimization.
• Inventory and Supply Chain Management.
• Budgeting and Financial Awareness.
• Contract Management.
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills.
• Documentation and Reporting.
• Strong Coordination and Communication Skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office and ERP/Procurement Systems.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Strong negotiation and decision-making abilities.
• Proactive and solution-oriented.
• Ethical and transparent in business dealings.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong ownership and accountability.

Working Conditions

• Full-time, on-site role.
• May require periodic travel to centers, vendors, and supplier locations.
• Interaction with vendors, suppliers, center teams, management, and cross-functional departments.
• May require availability during new center setups, audits, and major procurement projects.
• Fast-paced environment requiring effective coordination and timely execution of procurement activities.