Head of Procurement – ZEISS India

Position Overview

Head of Procurement

This is a high-impact leadership role requiring cross-functional collaboration, strong commercial acumen, digital savviness, and a deep understanding of strategic sourcing in a global matrix organization.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Procurement Leadership

• Develop and execute the overall procurement strategy for ZEISS India aligned with global procurement standards and local operational needs.
• Champion cost optimization and value creation through strategic sourcing and total cost of ownership (TCO) models.
• Build a best-in-class indirect procurement function across IT, HR, travel, marketing, logistics, professional services, facilities, and MRO categories.

2. Vendor & Contract Management

• Lead complex vendor negotiations ensuring optimal cost, quality, risk, and compliance outcomes.
• Develop long-term partnerships with key suppliers to foster innovation and supply assurance.
• Lead quarterly business reviews with key vendors & internal stakeholders to design plans to improve sourcing and drive efficiency.
• Establish robust governance models, supplier performance KPIs, and periodic review mechanisms.

3. Digital Transformation in Procurement

• Define and implement a roadmap for digital procurement transformation - leveraging tools such as Jaggaer, SAP/S4HANA, Coupa, or other relevant technologies.
• Drive automation of procurement workflows, supplier onboarding, e-sourcing, and analytics-led decision-making.
• Collaborate with the global and IT teams to ensure procurement systems integration and data integrity.

4. Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Standardize procurement policies, processes, and templates across the organization in line with global ZEISS policies.
• Ensure adherence to internal controls, ethical sourcing standards, and regulatory compliance.
• Implement category management, spend analysis, and demand forecasting to improve procurement planning and agility.

5. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Partner with business unit leaders in Manufacturing, Sales & Service, Supply Chain, Facilities Management, and the GCC to anticipate needs and align sourcing strategies.
• Act as a strategic advisor to the leadership team on supplier markets, cost trends, and sourcing risks.
• Coordinate closely with the Finance team to set up efficient processes to improve transparency and speed in procurement to pay cycle.
• Lead and mentor a team of procurement professionals, fostering a high-performance and continuous improvement in culture.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education:

  MBA in Supply Chain, Operations, or Business Administration; Engineering degree preferred.

• Experience:

  12–18 years of progressive procurement experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven success in leading indirect procurement and digital transformation initiatives in a global or multinational environment.
• Strong track record in high-value vendor negotiations and strategic sourcing.
• Proficiency in procurement technologies (SAP S4HANA, Jaggaer, PowerBI or equivalent) and advanced data analytics.
• Knowledge of Indian and global regulatory and compliance frameworks related to procurement.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen
• Influencing & Stakeholder Management
• Change Leadership & Digital Fluency
• Negotiation & Contract Management
• Financial and Analytical Rigor
• Strong Communication & People Development

Why ZEISS?

"Seeing Beyond"