Associate Director - Procurement

About Zinnov

Zinnov is a global management consulting firm that helps organizations make decisions that actually get used — and deliver results that matter. For over two decades, we’ve partnered with leading enterprises, high-growth technology companies, and investors to answer some of the toughest questions they face:

• Where should we invest?

• How do we scale globally?

• What capabilities will win in the next decade?

Our work shapes market entry strategies, global operating models, M&A decisions, and long-term growth bets. We’re known for being data-led, execution-focused, and outcome-driven — not opinion-heavy slideware.

At Zinnov, how you work matters as much as what you deliver. We value independent thinking, crisp communication, and early ownership. With 450+ professionals across 10 global offices, we work across industries including Digital Services, ER&D, Enterprise Software, Semiconductors, Healthcare, BFSI, Automotive, Media & Telecom, and Private Equity.

Zinnov isn’t for everyone. It’s for people who want steep learning curves, honest feedback, and the chance to see their work influence real business decisions — not just presentations.

Why Corporate Functions? 

Zinnov’s Corporate Functions teams power how the firm delivers at scale—building the internal engine behind high-growth, high-impact work. You’ll get:

• Hands-on ownership in running and scaling core operations (including Procurement, Vendor Partnerships, and Spend Governance). 
• Exposure to end-to-end enablement models that strengthen operating engines, employee experience, and scalable processes. 
• A highly cross-functional environment with close collaboration across delivery/PMO and domain teams to drive consistent execution. 

About the Role 

As Associate Director - Procurement, you will lead end-to-end procurement for the organization—building sourcing strategy, strengthening vendor partnerships, and driving cost and service outcomes with strong governance. You will own procurement policies and best practices, negotiate contracts, manage supplier performance, and partner closely with Finance, Operations, Business teams, and Legal to ensure timely, high-quality purchasing decisions. 

This role requires a strategic mindset and hands-on execution—balancing cost optimization with reliability, compliance, and scalable processes.  

What You’ll Do 

Procurement Strategy & Operating Model 

• Develop and implement procurement strategies aligned to business goals and annual plans.
• Establish procurement policies, guidelines, and best practices to improve consistency and control.
• Track market trends and identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements.  

Partner & Vendor Management 

• Build andmaintainstrong supplier relationships to secure best terms, service quality, and long-term partnerships.
• Conduct regular supplier evaluations to assess performance, quality, and delivery standards.
• Resolve vendor issues related to pricing, delivery, or quality in a structured and time-bound manner.  

Contracting & Negotiation 

• Lead commercial negotiations and contract finalization to ensurefavorableterms and risk-aware outcomes.
• Ensure contracts meet legal/regulatory requirements and internal compliance standards.
• Drive standardization through templates, negotiation guardrails, and approval workflows (where applicable).  

Inventory & Demand Collaboration 

• Partner with inventory andlogisticsteams to maintain adequate stock levels without overstocking.
• Improve procurement planning rhythms to reduce stock-outs, expedite costs, and delivery variability.  

Compliance, Risk & Governance 

• Ensure procurement activitiescomply withcompany policies, ethical sourcing standards, and quality controls.
• Identify and mitigate procurement risks (supplier concentration, lead time risk, quality risk, pricing volatility).  

Budgeting, Metrics & Reporting 

• Monitorand control procurement budgets; track spend, savings, and efficiency improvements.
• Establish and monitor KPIs (supplier performance, cost savings, cycle times, service levels).
• Create clear reporting for stakeholders on outcomes, risks, and improvement initiatives.  

Team Leadership 

• Lead, mentor, and develop the procurement team to build strong ownership, collaboration, and performance.
• Drive continuous improvement through process simplification, documentation, and capability-building. 

What You Bring 

Qualifications & Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 7–10 years of procurement experience, including 3–5 years in a managerial/leadership role.
• MBA or relevant certifications (e.g., CPM, CSCP) are a plus.  

Key Skills 

• Strong procurement fundamentals: sourcing strategy, vendor management, negotiation, and closure discipline.
• Experience handling complex contracts with strong commercial judgement.
• Strong cross-functional stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Familiarity with procurement systems/tools (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and structured reporting.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Working understanding of compliance and legal aspects of procurement.  

What Success Looks Like

• Procurement becomes more predictable and scalable—clear policies, clean workflows, and faster turnaround times.
• Cost savings improve without compromising service levels, quality, or compliance.
• Supplier performance strengthens over time through disciplined evaluation, governance, and relationship management.
• Stakeholders experience crisp collaboration—alignment on requirements, better visibility, and fewer escalations.
• Procurement KPIs and spend reporting become reliable, decision-ready, and consistently used. 

If you enjoy owning procurement strategy and execution end-to-end, building vendor partnerships that scale, and driving measurable cost and service outcomes through strong governance — this role offers both impact and progression. 

Zinnov is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, communities, and experiences.