Direct Sourcing Lead / Assistant Manager / Manager

About the role

TCS is hiring a Direct Sourcing Lead / Assistant Manager / Manager in Hyderabad to lead strategic sourcing for production materials, supplier partnerships and procurement operations. The role covers sourcing strategy, supplier relationship management, commercial negotiations, category management, risk mitigation and procurement governance, aiming at cost optimisation, supply continuity and operational excellence. The position is full-time, permanent, within the BPO 4/5/6 band, and requires 8-15 years of experience.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute category sourcing strategies for direct materials aligned with business, quality and cost objectives.
• Lead supplier identification, qualification, onboarding and performance management.
• Drive commercial negotiations on pricing, contracts, payment terms, lead times and service commitments.
• Partner with Planning, Operations, Engineering, Finance and Quality teams to align sourcing strategies.
• Monitor market trends, commodity pricing, supplier capabilities and supply chain risks.
• Lead RFx events, bid evaluations, supplier selection and recommendation governance.
• Establish supplier scorecards, run supplier reviews and drive corrective actions.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities, value engineering and supply base optimisation.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contract governance, audit requirements and approval controls.
• Mentor team members and improve sourcing processes, reporting and governance.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration, Operations or a related field.
• 8-15 years of experience in Direct Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain or Category Management.
• Strong experience in supplier negotiations and commercial sourcing, and in manufacturing or operations-linked sourcing.
• Expertise in Category Management and Supplier Relationship Management.
• Preferred: MBA or Procurement certification.
• Ex-TCS employees are not eligible to apply; PAN card and date of birth are mandatory for profile creation.

Required skills

• Category Management and Supplier Relationship Management
• Contract Management and Commercial Negotiation
• ERP Procurement Systems
• Preferred: RFx Management, Market Intelligence, Spend Analysis, Value Engineering, Supply Base Optimization, Procurement Analytics, Risk Assessment

Candidates apply through an AI assessment linked in the original posting.