Strategic Sourcing Manager, Chemical

THE TEAM YOU WILL BE JOINING

• Global manufacturing organization with a well-established sourcing and procurement function
• Strategic Procurement team supporting direct materials and critical raw material sourcing
• Individual contributor position with broad category ownership and organizational visibility
• Highly collaborative role partnering with Commercial, R&D, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and other business stakeholders
• Opportunity to influence procurement strategy across business-critical direct material categories
• Environment focused on cost optimization, supply continuity, supplier performance, and continuous improvement

WHAT THEY OFFER YOU

• Opportunity to own strategic sourcing initiatives for critical direct materials
• Broad exposure to supplier strategy, commodity markets, contract negotiations, and direct material procurement
• Ability to influence sourcing decisions that directly impact manufacturing operations, cost, and supply continuity
• Significant autonomy to build and improve sourcing strategies and supplier portfolios
• Opportunity to partner closely with technical, commercial, manufacturing, and supply chain leaders
• Exposure to regional and global supplier markets
• Ability to drive measurable savings, cost avoidance, quality improvement, and supply-risk reduction
• Strong platform for an experienced procurement professional seeking meaningful category ownership

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for direct and raw materials
• Analyze commodity markets, pricing trends, supply-demand dynamics, and underlying cost drivers
• Identify and deliver procurement savings and cost-avoidance opportunities
• Lead negotiations across pricing, payment terms, minimum order quantities, delivery terms, lead times, and commercial conditions
• Develop sourcing strategies aligned with business and manufacturing requirements
• Partner with Commercial and R&D teams around material development and demand forecasts
• Work with Supply Chain around total cost of ownership, packaging, MOQs, and delivery considerations
• Partner with manufacturing leaders to understand production and raw material requirements
• Develop and maintain qualified supplier portfolios
• Identify alternate suppliers for single-source, critical, or higher-risk materials
• Build strategic relationships with key raw material suppliers
• Lead supplier evaluations, audits, performance reviews, and continuous improvement activities
• Analyze supplier capabilities across price, quality, service, availability, capacity, reliability, and distribution
• Develop and administer commercial contracts with new and existing suppliers
• Monitor key spend trends, geographic considerations, and market factors impacting critical materials
• Drive improvements in cost, delivery, quality, and overall supplier performance
• Conduct financial and commercial analysis to support purchasing decisions
• Help build and continuously improve procurement processes
• Travel approximately 20%

BACKGROUND PROFILE

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Chemistry, or a related discipline
• Technical or chemical-related academic background is a plus
• 8+ years of strategic sourcing or procurement experience
• Significant experience purchasing direct materials within a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of raw material markets, supplier structures, commodity dynamics, and cost drivers
• Experience within chemicals, specialty materials, or another technically complex manufacturing environment strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex commercial agreements
• Track record of delivering cost savings and cost-avoidance initiatives
• Strong supplier performance management and contract administration experience
• Experience developing alternate sources for critical and single-source materials
• Strong financial and business acumen
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex sourcing and supplier data
• Strong project management capabilities
• Advanced Excel and ERP experience
• Strong influencing and stakeholder-management capabilities
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, changing environment
• Strong professional presence with the ability to drive results through influence
• No direct reports

LOCATION

• Charlotte, NC
• Onsite five days per week
• Approximately 20% travel