Senior Project Consultant - Business Consulting (Government Sector)

Location: Maharashtra (Mumbai, MH, IN, 400028)

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Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Project Specialist in Procurement to serve as a procurement expert. This role is responsible for managing and executing procurement activities related to civil works, tools, machinery, and equipment, with a specific focus on the ITI (Industrial Training Institute) and DVET (Directorate of Vocational Education and Training) sectors in Maharashtra. The ideal candidate will possess in-depth experience in public procurement processes, including PWD norms, Bill of Quantities (BoQ) based tendering, and multilateral agency procurement guidelines such as those of the World Bank.

The specialist will oversee all aspects of procurement, ensuring strategic planning, effective contract and vendor management, regulatory compliance, and alignment with Government of Maharashtra (GoM) systems. This role requires hands-on experience in procurement execution for infrastructure development and technical training institutes, emphasizing quality assurance, timely delivery, and strong stakeholder coordination.

Essential Functions of the Job

Procurement & Vendor Management

• Manage procurement processes for DVET, GoM, and World Bank funded components.
• Ensure rigorous vendor selection, onboarding, and performance monitoring in accordance with established policy frameworks.
• Manage e-tendering platforms such as GeM (Government e-Marketplace) and Mahatenders.

Strategic Procurement Planning

• Develop, implement, and monitor comprehensive procurement plans.
• Ensure timely and cost-effective procurement of goods, civil works, services, and consulting support.

Market Analysis & Supplier Engagement

• Conduct thorough procurement market research and analysis.
• Promote competitive bidding, foster strong vendor engagement, and develop category-specific strategies.

Procurement Operations

• Identify and apply appropriate procurement methods and tools.
• Draft essential procurement documents including Terms of Reference (ToRs), Requests for Quotations (RFQs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), bid evaluation reports, and contracts.
• Ensure strict compliance with procurement norms of the Government of India (GoI), Government of Maharashtra (GoM), World Bank, and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

Issue Resolution & Quality Assurance

• Support dispute resolution, manage bidder queries, and participate in contract negotiations.
• Address complaints and provide clarifications related to the bidding and award processes.
• Coordinate with Quality Assurance (QA) teams to ensure goods and services meet specifications and pass inspections.

Contract Management

• Develop and oversee contract management plans to ensure adherence to scope, timeline, and budget.
• Monitor deliverables, vendor performance, payments, and contract amendments using online contract management tools.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Track procurement milestones and update procurement Management Information Systems (MIS), such as CM-MIS.
• Support the preparation of strategic documents, manuals, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and comprehensive procurement reports.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Liaise effectively with technical departments, legal advisors, vendors, and government officials.
• Collaborate closely with DVET, industry partners, and the World Bank.

Required Skills and Personal Attributes

• Strong understanding of procurement rules and procedures for GoI, GoM, and the World Bank.
• Excellent drafting skills for bid documents, RFPs, and contracts.
• Proven experience in vendor engagement, negotiation, and contract lifecycle management.
• Proficiency in using e-procurement portals such as GeM and MahaTender.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to assess market trends and procurement risks.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder coordination skills.
• Ability to manage high-value and multi-stakeholder procurements with minimal supervision.
• Fluency in English and Marathi is essential.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, problem-solving aptitude, and expertise in documentation.

Job Requirements

Education

• MBA, Chartered Accountant, Postgraduate in related fields, Engineering, Management, or Procurement from a reputed institution.

Preferred Institutions

• TISS, Mumbai; Pune University; NMIMS (School of Social Sciences); IIM (Public Policy); VNIT; COEP.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of post-qualification experience in procurement and contract management on large-scale projects.
• Prior experience in World Bank, ADB, or other multilateral-funded projects is preferred.
• Experience in state-level procurement within Maharashtra is highly desirable.
• Exposure to procurement within the Skill Development, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), or ITI ecosystem is preferred.
• Experience in handling procurement of civil works, consulting/non-consulting services, goods, ITI machinery and equipment, and IT equipment.

Preferred Background

• Experience working with Industrial Training Institutes and partners such as TATA Strive, Quest, PAN ITI, Tata IIS, HCL Foundation, BOSCH, Maruti, Schneider, Bharat Forge, Rightwalk, Industry Tool Rooms, etc.
• Fellowship experience such as MGNF (Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship) or CM Fellow (Chief Minister's Fellowship Programme - Maharashtra) is an added advantage.