Senior Director / Director (General Merchandise) Sub Dep- Sourcing, Own Brands/Private Label Loction : Bangalore Core Areas : Sourcing & Vendor Management Our Story Founded in 2021 by Stanford University dropouts, Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto is Indias fastest growing e-grocery company valued at $1.4 Billion following its recent Series-E fundraise of $200 Million from marquee global investors including StepStone Group, Goodwater Capital, Y Combinator Continuity, Kaiser Permanente, Nexus Venture Partners, Glade Brook Capital, and Lachy Groom. Zepto is present across 11 major cities in the country, with 1000+ employees strong, and delivering 5000+ products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, daily cooking essentials, dairy, health-and-hygiene products, etc., to Indian homes within 10 minutes . Through strong tech capabilities, an efficient business model, and a network of highly optimized delivery centers across its 10 locations, the company is revolutionizing the Indian grocery segment currently pegged at $600 Billion, making it easier and more convenient. Own Brands focus Quality doesnt have to cost more”, with that as our motto, we persistently strive to bring affordability to our shoppers and empower them to make smarter choices. Convenience, being the key promise, zepto’s own brands helps take the stress off the customers’ of having to make a constant trade-off between high prices & low quality, every day. We are looking for team members who are passionate to develop and present awesome products to our customers delighting them at all times through these super-value offerings. They should be courageous to challenge the status quo and display an uncompromising attitude of driving improved customer experience. We are keen to have team members who are self-motivated and highly driven to join our fast-growing team. You'll help us build an exclusive high value delivering portfolio of Own Brand products, which not just excites customers, but also our finance team, delivering higher profitability Index. About the role This role involves designing and developing products through a strategizing sourcing lens, for a portfolio of product cutting across multiple categories under Staples portfolio. Key Responsibilities : Product Sharpness : Carefully select, develop and launch a comprehensive portfolio of products under Zepto Brands Sharpen the overall product specifications and sourcing process to create an impact while capturing changing consumer preferences and consumption habits. Drive the growth of the portfolio through having the right assortment mix in place. Vendor Selection & Management : Develop a network of processors and repackaging partners across the country to effectively source products at most competitive prices for each market. Establish and maintain strong relationships with supplying partners to negotiate favourable terms for the organisation on all sourcing & service aspects. Sourcing Excellence : Drive open book / cost plus sourcing practice to improve buying efficiency leading to improved margin delivery Devise a strategic sourcing plan across categories while constantly evaluating the regionalisation of sourcing for better serviceability. Strict Financial Control : Exercise strict inventory holding norms to efficiently manage working capital stress Negotiate higher credit period with vendors to achieve a negative working capital requirement Fast Paced Growth : Develop a category wise launch and growth playbook in collaboration with the Brand & Merchandising team to drive fast paced portfolio share growth Work with the Brand marketing team to design and develop portfolio / product level campaigns and help execute them with precision Maintain Competitive Edge : Track competitor activities to stay ahead in the game and maintain the edge Stay informed and updated on the emerging consumer trends to facilitate better product design and development Identify opportunities to differentiate and innovate What We’re Looking For We are looking for passionate product Lead who derive joy out of delighting consumers and improving their life experiences through a portfolio of products delivering super-value. The Lead should : Be a graduate in any function with an MBA with Marketing as a major Have a min. of 8-10 yrs of experience in sourcing of Home & Kitchen , Home Furnishing , Stationery , Toys , Luggage , Home Improvement categories Carry a ready vendor network to fast track product development & launches Be a sharp negotiator with a robust understanding of component costing model Possess a strong analytical mindset with the ability to make data-driven decisions Be sharp in communication, conflict management, and problem-solving abilities Why join us? Zepto is the fast-growing quick commerce startup not just in India but globally that delivers groceries in 10 minutes flat. We’re incredibly well-funded and focused on growing the business with profitability in focus. Hence Own Brands is core to our growth strategy which will help improve our margin delivery fast pacing our road to profitability.
