Senior Manager – Supply Chain (Commercial Focus)

Function: Supply Chain | Procurement | Commercial
Location: CN Water – HO (with travel to vendor / project sites)
Reporting To: Management Committee

???? Role Purpose

This role is designed to strengthen the commercial backbone of the supply chain function, with a strong focus on cost optimization, vendor negotiation, and procurement governance.

The incumbent will work closely with engineering and project teams to ensure cost-effective sourcing, commercial discipline, and timely material availability, complementing the existing technical strengths within the organization.

???? Key Responsibilities 1. Commercial Procurement & Cost Control Drive commercial negotiations with vendors to achieve cost savings and favorable terms Lead cost benchmarking, rate analysis, and contract finalization Establish rate contracts and commercial frameworks across key categories Ensure strong control on budgets, margins, and procurement costs 2. Vendor Management & Commercial Governance Build and manage a competitive vendor ecosystem Lead commercial evaluations, negotiations, and contract structuring Drive vendor performance tracking from a cost and delivery lens Develop alternate vendors to reduce dependency and improve pricing power 3. Cross-Functional Alignment Act as a bridge between Finance, SCM, and Project teams Partner with engineering for value engineering and cost optimization initiatives Support project teams in commercial decision-making and procurement planning 4. Planning & Execution Support Ensure timely procurement aligned to project schedules Monitor material availability vs. project timelines Support inventory planning with a focus on working capital optimization 5. Process & Compliance Drive procurement governance, SOPs, and approval workflows Ensure commercial compliance, documentation, and audit readiness Support ERP-driven tracking of procurement, costs, and vendor performance ???? Key Deliverables / KPIs Procurement cost savings and margin improvement Improved vendor negotiation outcomes Reduction in cost overruns and emergency procurement Strong commercial discipline across projects Timely material availability aligned to project schedules ???? Qualifications & Experience Preferred: CA (Chartered Accountant) Alternate: MBA Finance / B.Com Experience: 10–15 years in procurement / SCM / commercial roles Experience in engineering, EPC, water treatment, or industrial projects preferred ???? Key Skills Strong commercial acumen & negotiation skills Cost analysis, pricing strategy & contract management Vendor development & relationship management Cross-functional stakeholder management ERP and data-driven decision-making ???? Behavioral Attributes High ownership and accountability Strong commercial mindset with attention to detail Structured and process-driven approach Ability to influence and drive decisions across teams