Vegrow - Head - Supply Chain Infrastructure

About Us:

Vegrow focuses on matchmaking across demand and supply for fruits, aggregating multiple channels (wholesalers/semi-wholesalers, modern trade, and general trade) in 100 cities on the demand side and 30,000+ farmers on the supply side. Through its unique community advisory approach, Vegrow digitally engages with farmers across 400+ production pockets and helps them align with market expectations and get better yield, thereby higher income. It processes more than 400 tons of fruits daily. The company has grown significantly in last 12 months with industry leading gross margins of ~20%.

The growth has been unlocked on the back of its deep tech and data stack across the value chain. It has built capabilities to harness farmer chatter, estimate farmland produce and measure demand across Tier-I, Tier-II and Tier-III markets. Vegrow founders are extremely passionate about Agri-domain and come from a very strong pedigree of IITs and have a rich corporate and start-up experience along with domain expertise owing to their stint in ITC, Urban Company, AgroStar and Chronus. It is a fast-growing company and has scaled to over 450-member young and passionate team with a very strong leadership who are ex-entrepreneurs with a blend of Agri & non-Agri expertise coming from successful organisations viz. Godrej, Reliance, ITC, Microsoft etc. The company has raised US$46M in its Series C primary and secondary funding in January 2024. This new funding round has been led by GIC, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, with significant participation from existing investor Prosus Ventures and continued support from Matrix Partners India, Elevation Capital, and Lightspeed.

Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Procurement Head to lead our non-core procurement activities, ensuring a consistent and reliable supply of goods and services while driving efficiency and cost savings. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in procurement, supply chain management, and vendor relations, with the ability to identify opportunities for process improvement and cost optimization.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Vendor Management:

- Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers and service providers across various categories, including packaging materials, equipment, transportation, and facility maintenance.

- Negotiate contracts, pricing agreements, and service level agreements with vendors to optimize cost efficiency and mitigate supply chain risks.

- Evaluate vendor performance regularly, addressing any issues or discrepancies in quality, delivery, or service levels.

2. Category Management:

- Analyze spending patterns and identify opportunities for consolidating purchases and standardizing specifications across different categories.

- Develop category strategies and sourcing plans to support business objectives, balancing cost, quality, and service requirements.

- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand their procurement needs and provide guidance on best practices for sourcing non-core goods and services.

3. Cost Optimization:

- Conduct cost analysis and benchmarking to identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvement.

- Implement cost-saving initiatives, such as supplier rationalization, volume discounts, and alternative sourcing options, to maximize profitability without compromising quality.

- Monitor procurement performance metrics and KPIs to track progress towards cost reduction goals and identify areas for further optimization.

4. Compliance and Risk Management:

- Ensure compliance with company policies, industry regulations, and ethical standards in all procurement activities.

- Assess and mitigate supply chain risks, such as supplier reliability, geopolitical instability, and market volatility, through effective risk management strategies and contingency planning.

- Establish procedures for vendor qualification, due diligence, and contract management to minimize legal and financial exposure.

Qualifications and Skills:

- Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business administration, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

- Proven experience in procurement and vendor management, preferably in a diverse range of industries or sectors.

- Strong negotiation skills, with the ability to drive cost savings and value creation through strategic sourcing initiatives.

- Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.

- Familiarity with procurement software and ERP systems for sourcing, contract management, and performance tracking.

Benefits:

- Competitive salary and benefits package

- Opportunity to lead the procurement function of a rapidly growing business

- Dynamic and collaborative work environment

- Potential for career advancement and professional development opportunities