Procurement Operations Manager.
This mandate is run by SYMPHONI HR, a Mumbai-based executive search firm, est. 2003. Applications are email-verified and reach the search team running the role — confidentially, always.
About the organisation.
Our client is a leading global software company serving the insurance industry with intelligent core-system solutions. With a large international customer base and operations across more than 30 countries, it helps insurers modernise their systems and accelerate digital transformation. Its procurement function is run as a strategic business partner rather than a purely transactional team.
About the role.
The Procurement Operations Manager is the operational backbone of the procurement function, owning the day-to-day running of the buyer team, including workload management, SLA compliance, process governance and systems performance. This role reports to the Procurement Manager and leads category buyers and a procurement analyst, acting as the primary escalation point for operational issues. The successful candidate will also drive the team's readiness for ERP migration and AI-assisted automation.
What you will do.
- Manage day-to-day operations of buyers and a procurement analyst, including workload distribution, capacity planning and SLA performance
- Drive buyer performance management, onboarding and operational coaching across all spend categories
- Serve as the primary escalation point for urgent purchase requests, vendor disputes and operational exceptions
- Own P2P workflow configuration on ServiceNow, including approval routing, queue management and policy compliance
- Define and enforce one consistent procurement process, maintaining SOPs, escalation paths and buyer playbooks
- Lead the team's operational readiness for an ERP migration, including workflow mapping, category taxonomy alignment and training
- Identify and implement automation and AI-assisted tooling opportunities within buyer workflows
- Partner with Finance on PO reconciliation, budget compliance and month-end close support
- Provide operational data, KPI dashboards and savings tracking to support strategic reporting
What you bring.
- 8-12 years in procurement operations, purchasing or supply chain management within a technology or enterprise software company
- Proven experience managing a buyer team, including workload distribution, SLA ownership and performance management
- Strong command of P2P systems such as ServiceNow, SAP or equivalent ERP/procurement platforms
- Process governance mindset with experience defining and enforcing procurement policies across a multi-buyer team
- Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and operational escalations in a fast-moving environment
- Strong communication skills and comfort working across Finance, IT, R&D and senior stakeholders
- Fluent English
- Preferred: experience in an ERP migration (Dynamics 365, SAP S/4HANA or equivalent), AI tools applied to procurement, Software Asset Management or technology procurement operations, and a CIPS or equivalent procurement qualification
Other open roles.
Team Leader - Application Support — Bengaluru · Hybrid
Adobe Campaign Manager — Bengaluru · Hybrid
Salesforce Architect — Pan-India · Hybrid