Head of Procurement – APM Terminals Pipavav, Gujarat

Base yourself in lively Ahmedabad while taking on a high-impact leadership role at APM Terminals Pipavav. This position offers the excitement of regular on-site visits to our terminal located on the west coast of Gujarat, giving you hands-on exposure to port operations, direct collaboration with a dynamic team, and the opportunity to lead meaningful transformation in one of India’s key gateway ports.

About APM Terminals
APM Terminals is part of A.P. Moller - Maersk, a global integrator of container logistics. With a presence in 65 countries and a global workforce of over 20,000 employees, APM Terminals operates one of the world’s most comprehensive port and terminal networks. We are committed to enabling global trade and driving value for our customers through world-class operational excellence, innovation, and a strong commitment to sustainability.

About APM Terminals Pipavav (GPPL)
APM Terminals Pipavav, also known as Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd. (GPPL), is one of India’s leading gateway ports for containers, bulk, and liquid cargo. Strategically located in Gujarat, the terminal plays a vital role in supporting trade and industrial growth in India’s western corridor. With strong connectivity to the hinterland and a reputation for safety, reliability, and efficiency, Pipavav is a key node in our terminal network across the Asia and Middle East region.

We are seeking a strategic, inclusive, and people-centric leader to head the Procurement function at APM Terminals, Pipavav. This role will contribute to strengthening our supply chain resilience, enabling agile and reliable terminal operations, and delivering value to our customers and partners. You will lead and empower a talented procurement team, drive capability building, and embed procurement excellence aligned with our regional and global ambitions.

About the Role :

We are seeking a strategic, inclusive, and people-centric leader to head the Procurement function at APM Terminals Pipavav. This role will strengthen our supply chain resilience, enable agile and reliable terminal operations, and deliver value to our customers and partners. You will lead and develop a strong procurement team, embed operational excellence, and drive transformational initiatives aligned with regional and global priorities.

At APMTerminals, we are deeply committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to grow. We strongly encourage applications from women professionals who are passionate about making an impact and advancing into senior leadership roles.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development

• Empower and develop the Procurement team through regular performance reviews and career development conversations.
• Foster a culture of engagement, accountability, and high-impact contribution.

 Strategic Procurement & Execution

• Lead procurement strategies across OPEX spend categories and guide the team through complex sourcing initiatives.
• Contribute to the development and execution of regional procurement strategies in alignment with business objectives.

Cost Optimization & Value Delivery

• Drive cost improvement initiatives and optimize the end-to-end purchase-to-delivery cycle.
• Identify opportunities for spend consolidation and procurement process enhancement across regions.

Source to Contract & Policy Governance

• Establish and maintain robust Source-to-Contract (S2C) and contract management frameworks.
• Ensure strict compliance with internal procurement policies, APM Terminals standards, and ethical practices.

Inventory & Supply Chain Collaboration

• Collaborate with Asset Maintenance to improve spare parts availability, inventory optimization, and logistics efficiency.

Supplier Management & Partnership Development

• Build and nurture strategic supplier partnerships to ensure reliability, performance, and long-term value creation.
• Conduct regular supplier evaluations and audits to manage performance and mitigate risk.

CAPEX Procurement Support

• Support CAPEX procurement activities by coordinating with central teams for timely sourcing inputs, vendor evaluations, and stakeholder alignment.

Third-Party Labor Compliance

• Ensure all third-party labour engagements are compliant with local regulations and Maersk’s third-party labour governance framework.

Digital Procurement & System Integration

• Leverage digital procurement platforms (e.g., IFS) and data analytics to drive automation, visibility, and data-driven decision-making, vendor performance visibility, and real-time reporting

Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance

• Implement supplier risk assessments, audit, and ensure compliance with global trade controls, FCPA, and anti-corruption policies.

Sustainability & ESG Integration

• Embed sustainability and ESG goals in procurement practices – including supplier assessments, green sourcing, and local content development.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) & Lifecycle Management

•   Champion Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles to balance quality, cost, service, and sustainability in sourcing decisions.

Crisis Management & Business Continuity

• Develop sourcing contingencies and supplier diversification strategies to ensure business continuity during disruptions, especially those caused by geopolitical events or pandemics.

Change Management & Transformation

• Lead change management initiatives to align procurement processes with new systems, standards, and operating models.

Performance Metrics & KPI Monitoring

• Define, track, and report key procurement KPIs including cost savings %, supplier OTIF, contract coverage, lead time reduction, contract coverage, and supplier performance.

Scope & Reporting

Scope: APM Terminals Pipavav, Gujarat
Reports to: Regional Head of Procurement – Asia & Middle East
Direct Reports: Procurement team at Pipavav
Indirect Reports: Buyers team in Mumbai
Collaboration: Global Category Management teams and regional functional stakeholders

Stakeholder Engagement

Internal:

• Regional Procurement Management
• Global & Regional Procurement Teams
• Pipavav Terminal Leadership
• Finance, Asset Maintenance, and other functional teams

External:

• Vendors, Suppliers, Contractors
• Local Authorities

Qualifications & Experience

• 15+ years of experience in procurement and supply chain
• Proven leadership experience with a focus on team engagement and development
• Expertise in Source to contract, contract management and supplier relationship development
• Ability to influence at senior levels and manage complex projects
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Financial acumen and experience managing budgets
• Fluent in English, Hindi, and Gujarati
• Commitment to ethical practices and continuous improvement

Career Development Opportunities

This role offers significant exposure to strategic and operational procurement in a global organization, with influence over major OPEX and support for CAPEX decisions. Potential career paths include:

• Regional/Global Category Management
• Supply Chain Operations Leadership
• Senior Project Leadership
• Group Procurement Roles

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

We are happy to support your need for any adjustments during the application and hiring process. If you need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website, apply for a position, or to perform a job, please contact us by emailing  accommodationrequests@maersk.com.