Supply Chain Lead

# Supply Chain Lead ## Job Summary The Supply Chain Lead is responsible for ensuring the reliable, cost-effective, and timely availability of materials and finished products across all channels. This role focuses on building an integrated, data-driven supply chain that supports business growth, protects product freshness, and delivers a consistent customer experience. Reporting to the Head of Manufacturing & Supply Chain, the Lead will oversee demand and supply planning, capacity planning, procurement, inventory, warehousing, logistics, and distribution. ## Responsibilities - Develop the supply chain strategy and network roadmap aligned with business growth, channel expansion, and investment priorities. - Lead the monthly Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process, aligning sales, marketing, manufacturing, and finance on demand, supply, and inventory plans. - Own demand forecasting in partnership with sales and marketing, improving forecast accuracy by channel, region, and SKU. - Translate demand plans into production, material, and capacity plans for own factories and third-party manufacturers. - Lead procurement of raw materials, packaging, and services, ensuring quality, cost efficiency, continuity of supply, and supplier compliance. - Build and manage a strong supplier base, including alternate sources, contracts, rate negotiations, and performance reviews. - Set inventory norms for raw materials, packaging, and finished goods, balancing availability, working capital, and shelf life. - Manage warehouses and distribution centers, ensuring First Expired First Out (FEFO), stock accuracy, safe storage, and hygiene standards. - Lead primary and secondary logistics, including transporter selection, freight negotiations, route planning, and delivery performance. - Ensure seamless fulfillment across distributors, modern trade, e-commerce, and quick-commerce channels, meeting each channel’s service norms. - Coordinate supply plans with third-party manufacturers, tracking material availability, production schedules, and dispatch adherence. - Drive supply chain cost reduction across procurement, freight, warehousing, inventory holding, and expiry or damage losses. - Ensure compliance with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), legal metrology, GST/e-way bill, and other regulatory requirements across the supply chain. - Strengthen Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Warehouse Management System (WMS) usage, master data, and dashboards to provide real-time visibility of demand, inventory, and service levels. - Build and lead the supply chain team, defining roles, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and capability development; act as a key partner to leadership. ## Key Result Areas - **Forecast Accuracy:** Improved forecast accuracy by channel and key SKU. - **S&OP Effectiveness:** Aligned monthly plans with agreed actions and follow-through. - **Product Availability:** Higher fill rate and fewer stock-outs across channels. - **On-Time Delivery:** Customer orders delivered in full and on time. - **Inventory Health:** Optimal stock levels with lower days of inventory. - **Freshness & Expiry Control:** Reduced near-expiry, expired, and damaged stock. - **Supply Chain Cost:** Lower procurement, freight, and warehousing cost per unit. - **Supply Continuity:** No production loss due to material shortages. - **Supplier Performance:** Suppliers meeting quality, delivery, and cost standards. - **Warehouse Performance:** High stock accuracy, FEFO adherence, and dispatch speed. - **Partner Supply Adherence:** Third-party manufacturers delivering to agreed plans. - **Systems & Visibility:** Accurate ERP data and real-time supply chain dashboards. - **Regulatory Compliance:** Full statutory and audit compliance across the supply chain. - **Team Capability:** Capable team working to SOPs with clear ownership. Performance targets will be agreed upon against verified baselines and approved business plans. ## Qualifications - Graduate in Engineering. - MBA or Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) in Supply Chain Management or Operations is preferred. ## Experience - Minimum 10 years in supply chain management, including leadership of planning, procurement, warehousing, and logistics teams, with a strong understanding of the end-to-end value chain. - Experience in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) or food manufacturing, preferably with short shelf-life products and multi-channel distribution. - Proven experience running S&OP and demand-planning processes that improved forecast accuracy and product availability. - Demonstrated ability to clearly define complex problems, break them into actionable workstreams, and deliver measurable outcomes. - Proven track record of reducing inventory, freight, procurement, or expiry costs, with results validated by finance. - Experience managing third-party logistics (3PL) warehouses and transport partners. - Ability to work hands-on in a startup environment, prioritize limited resources, and build systems that support growth. ## Authority and Accountability - Own supply chain plans, capacity planning, procurement decisions, inventory, and logistics performance within approved budgets and delegated authority. - Collaborate closely with manufacturing, quality, sales, and finance teams, sharing accountability for product availability, cost, and customer service.