Director - Rice Procurement & Excellence

Role & responsibilities

• Design and execute comprehensive rice procurement strategy across all major varieties (basmati, parboiled, raw, specialty) and regional preferences
• Map end-to-end value chain from farmer to consumer, identifying strategic intervention points for margin capture and efficiency gains
• Eliminate inefficiencies across farmer mandi miller wholesaler retailer touchpoints through direct relationships and technology integration
• Build innovative sourcing models that bypass traditional intermediaries while ensuring farmer income stability and quality consistency
• Build and lead a team of 4-6 Regional Rice Buyers strategically positioned across key production zones (Punjab/Haryana for Basmati, Andhra Pradesh/Telangana for varieties, West Bengal for specialty rice)
• Transfer hands-on buying expertise to regional teams including negotiation techniques, supplier evaluation methods, and deal structuring approaches
• Establish dual reporting matrix where Regional Rice Buyers report functionally to you and operationally to Regional CEOs for local execution
• Design cross-regional sourcing strategies, particularly for premium varieties like Basmati that serve multiple regional markets
• Coach regional buyers on seasonal buying strategies, market timing, and commodity volatility management based on your field experience
• Implement monthly regional buyer reviews focusing on procurement performance, supplier relationships, and regional market support
• Establish customer-back quality standards that ensure consistent product experience for kiranas and their end consumers
• Build sophisticated pricing models that optimize gross margins while maintaining competitive market positioning
• Partner with Supply Chain team on regional fulfillment optimization, logistics cost minimization, and multi-channel inventory management that supports regional growth targets
• Own rice category KPIs including procurement cost optimization, quality metrics, supplier performance, and fill rates

Preferred candidate profile

• 15+ years of rice/commodity procurement experience with proven margin expansion track record in competitive, scale-driven environments
• Crisis-tested procurement leadership with demonstrated ability to navigate major supply disruptions, market volatility, and competitive pressure
• Scale economics expertise with experience leveraging large buyer volumes (>100Cr annual procurement) to secure preferential supplier terms and competitive advantages
• Financial sophistication including working capital optimization, commodity risk management, and procurement financing structures
• Advanced negotiation mastery with track record of structuring complex deals that deliver measurable cost savings and margin improvements under timeline pressure