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Who we are
Plaksha is a 21st-century university focused on solving global challenges through transformative technology education. A unique collective philanthropy effort, our initiative is driven by a dedicated team committed to reimagining technology education in India. Our culture is anchored in six values: Curious, Rigorous, Enterprising, Authentic, Thankful, Exemplary (C.R.E.A.T.E.), and we seek leaders who embody these traits and who are genuinely excited about building institutions that matter.
Role – Associate Director – Procurement
The Associate Director – Procurement is a pivotal institutional leader who will own the entire Procure-to-Pay (P2P) ecosystem across Plaksha University, the Reimagining Higher Education Foundation (RHEF) and the Plaksha Incubation Centre. This role has the strategic mandate to build a procurement function that is transparent, data-driven, AI-augmented, and trusted by every stakeholder from faculty to the Board. The incumbent will lead a team of 4–5 professionals, govern a complex Opex and Capex portfolio, and serve as the institutional authority on vendor governance, contract management, and spend intelligence.
Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management:
Lead end-to-end procurement strategy for all Opex and Capex requirements across Plaksha and RHEF, including infrastructure, IT, lab equipment, services, and research procurement
Design and govern the Approved Vendor Master (AVM), including qualification, periodic evaluation, and debarment protocols
Establish multi-year rate contracts and framework agreements for high-frequency categories to reduce cycle time and cost
Drive competitive tendering, negotiation committee processes, and comparative statement of quotes (CSQ) with rigour and institutional integrity
Identify and onboard new vendors; ensure all onboarding is compliant with the vendor selection matrix and finance KYC requirements
Procurement Operations and Governance:
Own the complete Procure-to-Pay cycle, from indent creation to GRN, invoice processing, and payment thus ensuring adherence to the institutional SOP (Purchase-001/R1) and Delegation of Authority matrix
Drive compliance across all procurement categories with zero tolerance for order-splitting, post-facto violations, or undocumented single-vendor deviations
Maintain the procurement turnaround time (TAT) framework: 9–12 days (new items, online), 21 days (new items, offline), 7 days (repeat items), and 55 days (construction)
Oversee emergency and post-facto purchase protocols, ensuring proper COO/CFO/VC approvals and documentation
Manage the Work Order lifecycle for SITC and construction projects including pre-qualification, BOQ validation, and checklist compliance
Collaborate with Finance leadership on cash flow management, procurement budgets, and capital expenditure planning.
Establish and maintain a comprehensive delegation of authority matrix for procurement approvals.
Build procurement KPI dashboards for real-time visibility including on-time delivery, perfect order score, spend analytics, savings realized, open PO ageing, vendor evaluation scores and demand forecasting
Contract & Compliance Management
Review and approve high-value contracts, POs, WOs, and agreements in alignment with the institutional approval matrix
Partner with legal counsel to maintain standardized, institutionally compliant contract templates and PO terms and conditions
Monitor advance payments, bank guarantees, and liquidated damages provisions across all active POs and WOs
Manage RGP, NRGP, and scrap recovery processes
Team Leadership & Capability Building
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 4–5 procurement professionals; define career pathways and build institutional capability for the long term
Foster a culture of ownership, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement within the procurement function
Train the broader user community (faculty, departmental indentors, stores team) on P2P processes, compliance norms, and system usage
Skills
Deep expertise in P2P, strategic sourcing, vendor management, and contract governance
Proficiency with P2P / ERP platforms and willingness to champion AI-native tools
Strong command of spend analytics, dashboarding, and procurement KPIs
Sound understanding of GST, import/export regulations, and legal compliance in procurement
Experience with construction / infrastructure tendering, BOQ validation, and contractor management
Exceptional negotiation, influencing, and executive communication skills.
High ethical standards, institutional integrity, and commitment to compliance and transparency.
Collaborative and cross-functional — comfortable partnering with Finance, Legal, Research, and the VC’s office
Experience and Education
16+ years in procurement, supply chain, or institutional operations, preferably spanning education, infrastructure, or research-intensive environments
Demonstrated track record managing high-value, multi-category Opex and Capex procurement portfolios
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or related field is good to have
Location
Mohali (Full time)
What can Plaksha offer you?
- A front-row seat to building a 21st-century university from the ground up
- A culture of intellectual curiosity, institutional transparency, and genuine collaboration
- Access to world-class faculty, industry leaders, and a network of visionary founders and philanthropists
- An inclusive environment that values diverse talent and supports personal and professional growth
