Head of Supply Chain (Plant Head)

Job description

Role Summary: As the Plant Supply Chain Head at Lenskart, you will lead and own the complete supply chain function within the manufacturing plant, from inbound raw materials to dispatch of finished goods. Your role will ensure seamless integration between procurement, production planning, inventory, warehousing, quality, and logistics to deliver products to stakeholders with excellence in cost, quality, and timelines. You will drive continuous improvements, scalability, and alignment with Lenskart's overall supply chain strategy. Key Responsibilities Strategic & Leadership Define, own, and execute the plant-level supply chain strategy in alignment with corporate supply chain objectives and business growth goals. Provide leadership to supply chain teams (procurement, planning, inventory, warehousing, logistics) at the plant. Build capabilities — recruit, mentor, develop talent, and build a high‑performance supply chain team. Drive cross‑functional collaboration with manufacturing, quality, engineering, finance, and product teams. Lead change management, process standardization, digital transformation (ERP, automation) in the plant supply chain domain. Procurement & Vendor Management Source raw materials, components, and indirect materials required for the plant. Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers, negotiate contracts, terms, SLAs. Monitor supplier performance (on-time, quality, cost) and implement corrective measures. Conduct supplier audits, qualify new suppliers, manage alternative sourcing for risk mitigation. Demand / Production Planning Coordinate demand forecasting, translate demand into plant production plans. Collaborate with manufacturing to ensure capacity, raw material availability, and timely execution. Drive material requirements planning (MRP), buffer planning, safety stocks. Balance inventory levels — minimize working capital while ensuring no production disruption. Inventory & Warehousing Oversee inventory management (raw, WIP, finished goods) and ensure accuracy. Define and monitor KPIs: inventory turns, days of inventory, shrinkage, obsolescence. Oversee warehousing operations: layout, storage, movement, picking, packing, dispatch. Implement process improvements (lean, 5S, value stream mapping) in warehousing. Logistics & Distribution Manage inbound logistics from suppliers to plant (transportation, customs/EXIM if applicable). Manage outbound logistics of finished goods (to distribution centers, stores, customers). Optimize transport routes, negotiate with carriers, manage freight/duty costs. Ensure end‑to‑end visibility, delivery schedules, and performance metrics (OTD, fill rate, lead time). Quality, Compliance & Risk Ensure supply chain compliance with quality norms, regulatory norms, safety standards. Mitigate supply chain risks (e.g. supplier failure, material shortage, demand fluctuations). Drive root cause analysis on supply issues, disruptions, delays, and corrective action plans. Ensure audit readiness, documentation, traceability across supply chain. Metrics, Reporting & Cost Optimization Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators (KPIs) for plant supply chain. Provide regular dashboards, insights, variance analysis, forecasts to senior management. Identify cost optimization opportunities across procurement, inventory, transport, logistics. Lead initiatives in process optimization, lean, automation, digitization to improve efficiency. Project & Technology Initiatives Lead and implement supply chain technology projects (ERP enhancements, supply chain modules, analytics, digital tools). Pilot and scale process automation, AI/ML forecasting, predictive analytics. Manage capital projects related to supply chain (warehouse expansions, material handling systems). Drive continuous improvement projects (Kaizen, Six Sigma) in supply chain operations. Qualifications & Experience Education Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field (preferably). MBA or master’s degree is a plus. Experience 10+ years in supply chain / operations / manufacturing environment, with at least 4–5 years in leadership roles. Experience in factory/plant-level supply chain operations is strongly preferred. Experience managing procurement, inventory, planning, warehousing and logistics. Prior experience with large scale manufacturing / e‑commerce / retail supply chains is a plus. Skills / Competencies Strong strategic thinking and execution capability Excellent leadership, team-building and interpersonal skills Analytical & data-driven mindset; ability to work with metrics, dashboards, KPIs Strong negotiation skills with vendors and carriers Knowledge of supply chain systems, ERP, planning tools Continuous improvement mindset (Lean, Six Sigma, process re-engineering) Good change management, project management skills Strong communication skills (verbal, written) Ability to work in cross-functional and fast-paced environment Risk management orientation and business continuity planning Certifications (Optional but desirable) Six Sigma / Lean certification APICS / CSCP / CPIM / CPM / SCM certifications Project Management (PMP / equivalent) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) On-Time Delivery (OTD) from plant Inventory Turnover / Days Inventory on Hand Material Shortage / Stock-Out incidents Supplier On-Time Performance & Quality Cost per Unit (procurement + logistics + handling) Freight & Logistics Cost as % of revenue Process cycle time improvements Warehouse accuracy / shrinkage Number of continuous improvement initiatives executed Challenges & Expectations Ensure zero production disruption Align plant supply chain to corporate strategy Drive digitization & automation Manage capacity variability