Senior Procurement Manager

Krea University; Chennai District; On-site; INR 2,400,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Krea University in Chennai is seeking a Senior Manager Procurement to lead end-to-end procurement across IT assets, office supplies, infrastructure, and academic needs. You will manage vendor onboarding, negotiate terms, and drive cost savings while ensuring compliance with university policies.

The role requires overseeing procurement across multiple categories, building strong supplier relationships, and digitizing workflows to improve efficiency.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in any relevant discipline; additional qualification in Procurement/Supply Chain Management will be preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, and vendor management.
• Experience handling multiple procurement categories in a large organization, university, corporate setup, or similar environment.
• Strong negotiation, vendor management, and analytical skills.
• Good understanding of procurement processes and market practices.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end procurement lifecycle from requirement identification to purchase order processing, delivery, and closure.
• Procurement of IT assets, software, lab equipment, office supplies, furniture, stationery, and other academic and operational requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new vendors through market research and assessing quality, cost, reliability, and service capabilities.
• Evaluate quotations from multiple vendors, perform comparative analysis, negotiate terms, and ensure cost-effective procurement solutions.
• Develop and maintain strong vendor relationships to ensure competitive pricing, quality, timely delivery, and effective service support.
• Coordinate with internal departments to understand procurement requirements and ensure timely fulfilment.

Skills

Negotiation

Vendor management

Analytical skills

Procurement knowledge

Education

Masters degree

Procurement/Supply Chain qualification

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job Title: Senior Manager

Department: Procurement

Reporting To: Chief of People and Operations

Job Location: Chennai

Job Description:

The Senior Manager Procurement will be responsible for managing end-to-end procurement activities for the university. The role will involve sourcing, vendor identification, negotiation, purchase management, and ensuring timely procurement of quality products and services at competitive prices. The candidate will handle procurement requirements across various categories including IT assets, office supplies, infrastructure, academic requirements, and other operational needs of the university.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Manage the complete procurement lifecycle from requirement identification to purchase order processing, delivery, and closure.
• Manage procurement of IT assets, software, lab equipment, office supplies, furniture, stationery, and other academic and operational requirements of the university.
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new vendors by conducting market research and assessing quality, cost, reliability, and service capabilities.
• Evaluate quotations from multiple vendors, conduct comparative analysis, negotiate commercial terms, and ensure cost-effective procurement solutions.
• Develop and maintain strong vendor relationships to ensure competitive pricing, quality standards, timely delivery, and effective service support.
• Coordinate with internal departments to understand procurement requirements and ensure timely fulfilment.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with university policies, approval processes, and audit requirements.
• Coordinate with Finance and Accounts teams for invoice verification, vendor payments, GST compliance, TDS deductions, and other procurement-related financial documentation.
• Maintain procurement records including vendor database, quotations, purchase orders, contracts, invoices, and related documentation.
• Monitor vendor performance and resolve issues related to quality, delivery, pricing, and service.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements, standardization, and cost savings within the procurement function.
• Standardize and streamline procurement processes by implementing digital procurement solutions, automation tools, or ERP systems to reduce manual intervention and improve efficiency.
• Lead initiatives to digitize procurement workflows, including vendor management, purchase requests, approvals, and tracking through suitable technology platforms.
• Prepare procurement reports, MIS, spend analysis, and support cost optimization initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Masters degree in any relevant discipline; additional qualification in Procurement/Supply Chain Management will be preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, and vendor management.
• Experience handling multiple procurement categories in a large organization, university, corporate setup, or similar environment.
• Strong negotiation, vendor management, and analytical skills.
• Good understanding of procurement processes and market practices.