Procurement & Planning Deputy Manager – OTC/FMCG

Job Title: Procurement & Planning Deputy Manager – OTC/FMCG

Location: Gurgaon Department: Planning & Procurement

Role Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and result-oriented Procurement & Planning Deputy Manager to manage end-to-end procurement, demand planning, and inventory optimization for OTC/FMCG categories. The role requires strong commercial acumen, supplier management expertise, and the ability to ensure high product availability while optimizing costs and margins.

Key Responsibilities

• Procurement & Sourcing

• Manage procurement from direct companies and distributors

• Negotiate commercial terms including pricing, margins, schemes, and credit periods

• Ensure alignment with company’s margin and profitability targets

• Identify alternate sourcing opportunities to reduce dependency and risk

• Demand Planning & Forecasting

• Develop monthly and weekly demand forecasts based on historical sales and market trends

• Collaborate with sales and marketing teams for promotion and seasonal planning

• Ensure accurate forecasting to minimize stock-outs and overstock

• Inventory Management

• Maintain optimal inventory levels across categories and warehouses

• Monitor slow-moving, non-moving, and near-expiry inventory

• Implement FIFO/FEFO practices to reduce expiry losses

• Drive improvements in inventory turnover and working capital efficiency

• Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with brands, distributors, and suppliers

• Track vendor performance (fill rate, lead time, service levels)

• Resolve supply issues, escalations, and discrepancies

• Margin & Cost Optimization

• Drive cost-saving initiatives through better negotiations and backend schemes

• Optimize logistics and procurement costs

• Monitor and improve category-wise margins

• Promotion & Scheme Execution

• Coordinate with brands for trade schemes and consumer offers

• Ensure timely stock availability during promotions

• Order Management & Execution

• Oversee purchase order creation and timely execution

• Ensure adherence to delivery timelines and quality standards

• Coordinate with warehouse and logistics teams for smooth operations

• MIS & Reporting

• Prepare and analyze reports on procurement, inventory, and vendor performance

• Track key KPIs such as fill rate, inventory turnover, and purchase vs sales ratio

• Provide actionable insights to management

• Risk Management

• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks

• Develop contingency plans for demand-supply fluctuations

• Ensure business continuity in case of disruptions

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Strong negotiation and commercial skills
• Expertise in demand planning and inventory management
• Analytical mindset with strong Excel/ERP skills
• Vendor management and relationship-building
• Problem-solving and decision-making under pressure
• Excellent communication and cross-functional coordination

Qualifications & Experience:

• Master’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field (MBA preferred)
• 8-10 years of experience in procurement/planning within FMCG or retail
• Experience in handling direct brand procurement is highly preferred