Mumbai / Local Procurement Manager – River Projects
Location: Mumbai, India
About the Organization
Our client is a mission-driven organization developing and scaling innovative technologies to remove plastic pollution from rivers and waterways.
As river-based projects in India transition from pilot deployments to scalable, long-term operations, the organization is strengthening its local procurement and supplier ecosystem.
To support this growth phase, our client is seeking a Local Procurement Manager – River Projects to take ownership of on-the-ground sourcing, supplier development, and operational continuity.
The Mission
Based in Mumbai, you will be responsible for building and managing a robust local supplier and partner ecosystem that enables river cleanup systems to be deployed, operated, and maintained reliably.
This role goes beyond traditional purchasing. Your mission is to help our client move operations from experimental to scalable by creating a resilient, flexible, and high-performing local procurement ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
Supplier & Ecosystem Development
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard local suppliers and service partners (components, installation, operations, maintenance)
- Design and execute a local sourcing strategy that supports both current river deployments and future scale-up
Strategic Sourcing & RFX
- Lead end-to-end RFI / RFP / RFQ (RFX) processes
- Negotiate contracts balancing cost, quality, speed, and agility
- Work closely with engineering, operations, and legal stakeholders to align technical and commercial requirements
Supplier Relationship Management
- Build long-term, partnership-based supplier relationships
- Encourage suppliers to innovate and continuously improve alongside project needs
- Monitor supplier performance and drive corrective actions where needed
Risk Management & Operational Continuity
- Identify local supply chain risks (lead times, capacity constraints, operational disruptions)
- Develop contingency and backup sourcing plans
- Act as the local escalation point to resolve on-the-ground issues quickly and effectively
Who You Are
Hands-On Connector
- Comfortable operating on-site and close to field operations
- Able to discuss technical specifications with engineers and contractual terms with legal teams
Strategic Thinker
- Thinks beyond immediate needs and anticipates requirements for multiple future river deployments
- Designs scalable, repeatable procurement and supplier structures
Local Diplomat
- Skilled at navigating local business culture and stakeholder dynamics
- Builds trust-based relationships and positions our client as a respected local partner
Qualifications
- 5–8 years of hands-on procurement or supply chain experience in maritime, river, infrastructure, offshore, or industrial project environments
- Proven ability to build a supplier base from scratch in emerging or complex markets
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field
Why This Role Matters
- Play a key on-the-ground role in scaling high-impact river projects
- Opportunity to shape procurement strategy—not just execute it
- High ownership, strong local autonomy, and close collaboration with international teams
- Direct contribution to large-scale environmental and social impact