Packaging Procurement Category

packaging procurement and category strategy

Key Responsibilities

1. Category Strategy & Sourcing Excellence

• Develop and execute packaging procurement strategy across categories (rigid plastics, flexible laminates, corrugates, glass, closures, labels, cartons, etc.).
  
• Deliver cost savings through

  value engineering, competitive sourcing, and demand aggregation

  .
• Build innovation pipelines aligned with

  consumer trends

  (premiumization, lightweighting, e-commerce readiness, convenience).

2. Supplier & Ecosystem Management

• Lead

  strategic supplier partnerships

  to ensure supply continuity and cost leverage.
• Establish

  long-term contracts, alternate sourcing pools, and risk-sharing agreements

  .
• Benchmark suppliers on cost, sustainability, lead time, and innovation.
  

3. Business & Brand Collaboration

• Work with Marketing, R&D, and Supply Chain to ensure balance between

  aesthetics, cost, supply assurance, and functionality

  .
• Translate brand briefs into sourcing strategies.
  
• Enable faster innovation cycles by minimizing

  lead times and supplier onboarding bottlenecks

  .

4. Sustainability & Compliance

• Champion

  eco-friendly and recyclable packaging solutions

  .
• Ensure compliance with

  EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)

  and global FMCG sustainability standards.
• Partner with suppliers to develop

  lightweight, recyclable, and biodegradable packaging alternatives

  .

5. Financial & Operational Accountability

• Deliver measurable

  cost savings, working capital improvements, and cash flow benefits

  .
• Use

  should-cost models and TCO frameworks

  for negotiations.
• Leverage

  analytics tools (e.g., Power BI)

  for spend tracking, forecasting, and supplier performance dashboards.

6. Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead and mentor a team of buyers/category managers.
  
• Act as a thought partner to leadership on

  packaging market trends and innovation opportunities

  .
• Build next-gen procurement capabilities within the organization.
  

Candidate Profile

• Education:

  MBA / Master’s in Supply Chain, Procurement, or Business. Engineering/Packaging Technology background strongly preferred.

• Experience:

  10–15 years in

  FMCG packaging procurement / category management

  .
• Strong track record in

  packaging sourcing, innovation, and cost optimization

  .
• Deep knowledge of

  FMCG packaging substrates, converting processes, and supplier ecosystem

  .
• Proven

  commercial acumen, value engineering expertise, and sustainability focus

  .
• Excellent

  stakeholder management

  and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Key Differentiators

• FMCG

  consumer-first packaging mindset

  .
• Ability to balance

  cost, aesthetics, sustainability, and speed-to-market

  .
• Strong

  supplier innovation leadership

  .
• Proven delivery of

  impactful packaging solutions

  for leading FMCG brands.

Key Skills

• Packaging Procurement
  
• Category Management
  
• Supplier Innovation
  
• Cost Optimization & Value Engineering
  
• Sustainability (EPR / Eco-friendly Packaging)
  
• FMCG Supply Chain Collaboration