Sourcing Specialist

Key Responsibilities

· Identify, evaluate, and onboard high-quality buyers (retail chains, cloud-kitchens, hotels, institutional caterers) for exotic vegetable supply.

· Develop and implement sourcing/supply-chain strategies to meet demand sustainably — balancing volume, freshness, quality, and cost.

· Negotiate contracts, pricing, supply terms, payment terms with buyers and intermediaries (distributors, DCs, procurement heads).

· Build and maintain long-term relationships with buyers, distributors, and supply-chain partners.

· Forecast demand and supply requirements; plan daily/weekly harvest & supply schedule in coordination with farm operations.

· Ensure compliance with food-safety standards, packaging norms (grading, shelf-life, hygiene), and regulatory requirements (GST, FSSAI, documentation).

· Coordinate logistics: cold-chain storage or transport (if required), timely dispatch, delivery schedules, and quality control at dispatch & delivery points.

· Monitor market trends, demand patterns (seasonality, buyer demand), competitor pricing — adapt sourcing/supply strategies accordingly.

· Maintain procurement/supply records, manage budgets, inventory (if using own storage), and supplier/buyer data.

· Periodically audit supply performance: quality, wastage, delivery delays; implement corrective measures.

· Provide regular reports to management: supply volume, revenue forecast, buyer performance, risk & contingencies.

Required Qualifications & Skills
Bachelor's degree (Agriculture, Supply-chain / Logistics / Business Administration or equivalent) — advantageous.
3–5 years (or more) experience in fresh-produce sourcing, procurement, supply-chain management, preferably with perishable goods (vegetables / fruits / similar).
Strong negotiation & vendor/buyer-management skills.
Good knowledge of agricultural produce, seasonality, freshness norms, storage/transport constraints (cold-chain, perishability).
Detail-oriented, organized, able to manage multiple buyers, schedules, documentation.
Excellent communication skills — to liaise with buyers, farmers/farm staff, logistics partners.
Analytical mindset: able to forecast demand, plan supply, monitor data (volumes, wastage, delivery times, costs).
Ability to work under time-pressure, meet tight supply deadlines (especially for perishable items).