Lead Commercial Sourcing

About the job

About The Business Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL) is a greenfield venture of the Tata Group with expertise in manufacturing precision components. Tata Electronics (a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd.) is building India’s first AI-enabled state-of-the-art Semiconductor Foundry. This facility will produce chips for applications such as power management IC, display drivers, microcontrollers (MCU) and high-performance computing logic, addressing the growing demand in markets such as automotive, computing and data storage, wireless communications and artificial intelligence. Role in a nutshell Lead the end‑to‑end equipment and material sourcing for a greenfield semiconductor assembly and testing facility, ensuring uninterrupted availability, quality, compliance, and cost effectiveness of direct and indirect materials required for process qualification, ramp‑up, and steady‑state production. The role is accountable for building a world‑class, resilient, and compliant equipment and materials supply ecosystem from zero—covering dicing saws, die bonders, wire bonders, molding presses, trim & form systems, AOI/X‑ray/SAM inspection tools, burn‑in chambers, and automated test equipment (ATE) along with handlers, SMT Process eqpt, die attach materials like epoxy adhesives, sinter paste, solder, bonding wires (Au, Cu), lead frames or substrates, epoxy molding compound (EMC), gels, plating metals, marking supplies, solder balls, flux, underfill, tape & reel, moisture barrier bags, cleaning solvents, ESD items, machine consumables, chemicals, gases, consumables, spare parts, and cleanroom materials—while managing risks related to single sourcing, geopolitics, logistics, purity, and contamination control. Responsibilities Strategic Leadership: • Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, ensuring quality, cost competitiveness, and sustainability. • Negotiate long-term contracts and secure critical equipment and material supply • Ensure slot reservation, factory installs, spares/consumables readiness, and service level agreements are in place to achieve tool move‑in, qualification, and ramp milestones on‑time and on‑budget, in compliance with local and global trade/tax regimes. • Build a Phase‑wise equipment procurement master plan aligned to process of record (POR), construction schedule, cleanroom readiness, AMHS track readiness, and tool hook‑up sequences. • Develop category strategies per toolset: new vs refurbished, OEM vs third‑party, frame agreements and slot reservations considerations. • Establish total cost of ownership (TCO) models (capex, install, consumables, service, uptime impact) and should‑cost for high‑value sections. • Work with logistics and customs team to set export control pathways and India trade architecture. Supplier selection and qualification • Lead supplier identification, qualification, and onboarding for all OSAT equipment and materials • Coordinate with Process Engineering, Quality, and EHS for: • Material specifications • Change control • Contamination and defect risk assessment • Establish Approved Vendor Lists (AVL) and Approved Material Lists (AML) Contracting & Commercial Management • Negotiate contracts to secure critical equipment, spare parts, and service agreements. • Secure critical material supply. • Negotiate: Long‑term supply agreements, Volume commitments and price protection, Consignment and Vendor‑Managed Inventory (VMI), Yield‑linked and performance‑based pricing • Structure contracts covering: Quality guarantees, Supply continuity, Change notification, Confidentiality and IP protection Start‑Up & Ramp‑Up Readiness • Ensure Day‑1 readiness for all line qualification materials • Build ramp‑synchronized equipment and material plans aligned to: Tool installation schedules, Process releases • Develop material buffers and safety stocks for ramp volatility Spares, Consumables & Service Continuity • Build startup and sustaining spares strategies; deploy consignment and min‑max policies integrated with MES. • Negotiate multi‑year service contracts with uptime SLAs (e.g., ≥95–98%), response times, escalation ladders, and OPEX caps; structure outcome‑based models (uptime/throughput). • Establish local service capability (OEM/third‑party) and critical spares localization (where feasible) to reduce MTTR and import dependency. Operations, Inventory & Logistics Management • Oversee equipment planning, sourcing, installation, and maintenance support. • Oversee planning, sourcing, inventory management, and distribution across multiple geographies. • Establish material planning models integrated with: MES / ERP / MRP, Consumption and yield data • Implement risk management frameworks to mitigate supply disruptions. • Optimize: Inventory turns, Shelf‑life management, Cold storage and hazardous storage • Implement cleanroom‑compatible equipment and material handling Risk Management & Supply Resilience • Identify and mitigate risks related to: Single‑source materials, Long lead times, Geopolitical and logistics disruptions • Develop: Alternate suppliers, Substitution strategies (qualified and pre‑approved), Emergency supply and expediting playbooks Cost, Risk & Governance • Own the equipment capex and OPEX models; deliver savings vs baseline via value analysis and value engineering (VAVE), shared spares pools, and energy/consumables optimization. • Maintain risk registers (single‑source OEMs, export license lead times, shipping lanes, customs clearances, site readiness); implement dual sourcing/alternate modules where possible. EHS & Regulatory Compliance • Ensure compliance with: Hazardous chemical and gas regulations, Storage, transport, and disposal norms, Import/export and customs requirements • Coordinate approvals with: EHS, Facilities, Government and statutory bodies Innovation & Transformation • Champion automation and analytics to optimize equipment utilization and reduce downtime and overall equipment efficiency (OOE) • Drive digitalization, predictive analytics, and automation in supply chain processes. • Champion sustainability initiatives and compliance with global regulations. • Implement and govern: • ERP / MRP integration • Supplier portals • Material traceability and lot genealogy • Ensure end‑to‑end visibility from supplier lot to manufacturing lot to customer lot Leadership & Collaboration • Lead cross-functional teams across procurement, logistics, and manufacturing. • Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, and finance to ensure seamless integration of supply chain strategies. Building Developing a world class material supply chain team • Build a high-performance commercial sourcing team with an ability to execute greenfield and brownfield fab projects. • Develop a hiring, training, coaching/mentoring and retaining strategy to build organization capacity and capability • Develop a continuously learning and developing culture to build talent pipeline for near, mid- and long-term requirements • Ensure succession and career planning for each team members. • Ensure learning and development opportunities for teams. • Encourage diversity and inclusion as per corporate values and guidelines. • Build and lead a high‑caliber equipment and materials sourcing team with a category management approach • Define capability development in: Semiconductor materials science basics, Risk management, Supplier negotiations Essential Experience • 15+ years of progressive experience in supply chain management, with at least 7 years in leadership roles. • Proven track record in semiconductor or high-tech manufacturing industries. • Expertise in global procurement, supplier negotiations, and risk management. • Experience in implementing advanced supply chain technologies (ERP, predictive analytics, AI-driven planning). • Demonstrated success in managing multi-entity, cross-border supply chain operations. Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Materials Science, Supply Chain, or related field. • Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred. • Strong knowledge of semiconductor assembly test equipment and materials, global trade regulations, and compliance standards. • Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills. • Ability to drive transformation initiatives and deliver measurable business impact.