Supply Chain Manager

Supply Chain Manager – Jaipur, India (Full-Time, Mid-Career)

About Guidecraft:

Guidecraft Inc., USA, is a 59-year-old company engaged in the design, manufacture, and distribution of high-quality educational toys and furniture for the consumer and educational markets, primarily in the US but with a growing international presence. Headquartered in New York, Guidecraft has offices in China, Vietnam, Thailand, and India. We recently launched our Playspace Design Initiative, focused on designing play-based learning environments for homes and schools.

The Role:

The Supply Chain Manager is a strategic leadership role, instrumental in building and shaping Guidecraft’s sourcing operations in India. This is a new position , offering the unique opportunity to influence and develop supply chain processes and partnerships from the ground up. The India sourcing operation is in a growth and setup phase , and we are looking for a self-motivated leader who thrives in building systems, teams, and factory relationships from scratch.

The individual must demonstrate expertise in sourcing and procurement strategy, vendor development, quality assurance, and cross-functional collaboration. They will also be responsible for evaluating and implementing continuous improvement initiatives, lean practices, and cost-efficiency measures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Network Development: Build and oversee a comprehensive network of manufacturers specifically for the children’s furniture sector.
• Sourcing & Auditing: Identify, research, and audit new manufacturing partners across India and nearby countries to ensure they meet multi-category production needs.
• Factory Onboarding & Training: Act as a lead mentor for new partners, guiding \"ground-up\" factory development to ensure they align with Guidecraft’s rigorous standards and specifications.
• Supply Chain Oversight: Maintain direct, hands-on control over supply chain operations and product inspections during the initial phase of operations.
• Team Leadership: Responsible for the end-to-end process of interviewing, hiring, and managing a dedicated Quality Control (QC) team to uphold company standards.
• Financial Negotiation: Direct ongoing factory negotiations and manage product pricing to ensure competitive and cost-effective sourcing strategies.
• Global Coordination: Partner with international teams in the US and Asia to synchronize inventory management, order fulfillment, and complex export documentation.

Location & Travel:

• Base Location: Must be based in Jaipur or willing to relocate to the Jaipur office.
• Domestic Travel: Frequent travel across India is required for onsite factory visits and supplier evaluations.
• International Travel: Occasional overseas travel to coordinate with global offices and manage broader supply chain logistics.

Core Requirements:

• Educational Background: A university degree in Engineering, International Business , or a closely related field.
• Language Proficiency: Must be fluent in English with strong communication skills for professional settings.
• Industry Expertise: Specific experience handling children’s products , with a primary focus on furniture .
• Manufacturing Experience: At least 5 years working within a physical manufacturing environment.
• Supply Chain Tenure: At least 5 years of experience specifically in sourcing or purchasing roles.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of the fabrication and manufacturing processes used to create children's furniture and educational equipment.
• Strategic Sourcing: Proven commodity knowledge and a pre-existing network of supplier and manufacturer contacts relevant to this niche.
• Safety Compliance: Proficiency in safety testing and standards , with specific mastery of ASTM (American) and EN71 (European) regulations for children's products.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Logistics: Practical experience managing international logistics and navigating complex export procedures .
• Sustainability: Familiarity with modern sustainability standards and \"green\" manufacturing practices.
• Specialized Compliance: Exposure to the specific compliance certifications required for educational and school furniture.

If interested, kindly share your CV and portfolio (max 10MB) at .