Category Buyer-Technical Services & Technical Goods

About the Role

Mitsubishi Chemical Group is seeking a strategic and results-driven Category Buyer to lead sourcing initiatives for Technical Services and Technical Goods across our North American operations. This role offers the opportunity to make a measurable impact by developing category strategies, strengthening supplier partnerships, negotiating high-value agreements, and delivering cost savings while ensuring a reliable and resilient supply base.

As the Category Buyer, you'll manage a portfolio of approximately $20–40 million in annual spend and partner with stakeholders across Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Finance, and Procurement to deliver business value through strategic sourcing and supplier management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that align with business priorities across North America.
• Lead competitive sourcing events, supplier negotiations, and contract management from strategy through execution.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships while driving continuous improvement, innovation, and performance.
• Analyze spend data, market trends, and total cost of ownership to identify sourcing opportunities and optimize supplier portfolios.
• Monitor supplier performance, risk, and compliance while ensuring supply continuity.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to understand operational needs and provide strategic procurement guidance.
• Support digital procurement initiatives, including SAP Ariba, spend analytics, automation, and AI-enabled procurement tools.
• Lead supplier consolidation and regional standardization initiatives that create enterprise-wide value.
• Champion sustainability, supplier diversity, ESG, and Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) objectives through responsible sourcing practices.
• Mentor junior procurement professionals and provide project leadership as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field preferred. Candidates with a high school diploma and 10 or more years of relevant strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement experience will also be considered.
• Five or more years of strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement experience within a manufacturing, chemical, industrial, automotive, or similar environment.
• Experience developing and executing category strategies.
• Proven success negotiating complex commercial agreements and managing supplier relationships.
• Strong analytical skills with experience using spend analytics and market intelligence to support sourcing decisions.
• Experience with SAP, SAP Ariba, or other Source-to-Pay procurement platforms.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $95,300–$119,100. Factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, job-related skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and business considerations may influence base pay offered. This salary will be subject to a geographic adjustment (according to a specific city and state), if an authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.