Category Manager - Direct Materials

About the role

This is a highly visible, key role within the Company and interacts closely with the Commercial Operations, Supply Chain and leadership teams across all three Chemours businesses. This position will report directly to the Procurement Director – Advanced Performance Materials and Thermal & Specialized Solutions at our Wilmington, DE Headquarters location.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic sourcing process by gathering inputs/requirements/business objectives to develop and lead global category strategies that may include both specialties such as precious metals and catalysts as well as commodities such as hydrofluorocarbons and other critical raw materials to deliver reliable, cost advantaged, and sustainable supply across multiple business units.
• Strategic thought partner that fosters strong cross-functional engagement and working partnerships to enable strategic planning and forecasting. Understands customer requirements such as volume, price, quality, delivery mode, supply risk and supply chain impacts and incorporated into category strategies.
• Identify and mitigate supply risk, critical path supplies and services and help monitor/manage related site risks. Proactively develop and implement effective risk mitigation strategies for key materials.
• Negotiate and prepare procurement agreements. Conducts negotiations, documents agreements in contract terms and conditions, conducts contract legal and financial reviews, obtains internal approvals, implements contracts, reviews contract/supplier performance after implementation.
• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers, negotiate pricing, payment terms, and delivery schedules. Facilitate new supplier introductions; Manage, consolidate, and drive lower tail spend where feasible.
• Develop category/sub-category sourcing strategy and align with business and stakeholders. Prepare regular reports on category performance, key insights, and actionable recommendations to senior managers.
• Work efficiently between internal data (spend, contract data) and external intel and market trends, analyze local and macro markets, and identifies opportunities to optimize category portfolio to drive maximum value. Utilize data analytics to identify purchasing trends, identify timing for commercial action, and inform decision-makers.
• Analyze market trends, competitor activity, and customer demand to identify potential products /services and suppliers. Understands supply market – production routes, supplier share, market price, alternatives. Drive cost efficiency challenges in a volatile commodity market and chemical indices that require constant market monitoring.
• Authoring Contracts with Firm KPIs that enhance Compliance. Develop metrics and work with digital to automate. Understand and align with the goals and requirements of the stakeholders and share progress and results of dashboards, metrics, KPI’s and benchmarks.
• Drive cost savings/avoidance, and working capital improvements through collaborative efforts with suppliers, internal customers and procurement category managers.
• Mentorship: Mentors/coaches Associate Category Managers on category management, Supplier Management, Supply Risk, and Stakeholder engagement.
• Lead bidding strategy and executes RFX, requests for proposals and competitive bids. Drive use of bidding optimizations/automation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain or engineering.
• 7 years of experience procuring or managing categories related to the Chemical industry.
• Strong expertise in Strategic Sourcing or Supply Chain Management domain experience (Category Management, Vendor management, SRM, Supply Risk, Regulatory compliance, segmentation/taxonomy).
• Strategic leadership skills in developing and nurturing strong working ties with site leadership and operations teams.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience managing and negotiating contracts to meet business needs and objectives.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Outlook & Internet applications and be able to create and interpret key reports.
• Strong working knowledge/experience in business analysis, market research, financial analysis, cost models, procurement/supply chain analysis and supplier performance management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; self-motivated with ability to handle multiple tasks and assignments simultaneously, with attention to detail, deadlines, and reporting.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues across the organization, as well as internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work well autonomously and within a team in a fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills (including analysis, interpretation, & reasoning).
• Business acumen – creating, positioning and negotiating commercial arrangements that deliver competitive advantage.
• Ability to build a strong business case with data and present it senior management.

Qualifications

• Master’s in business (MBA) or Supply Chain Certifications.
• Strong expertise in Source to Pay (S2P) software such as GEP, Ariba, Keelvar or similar.
• Proficiency in SAP (S4/HANA) or higher or an equivalent ERP business system.
• Good working knowledge of Go to Market strategies such as Reverse Auctions, eSourcing, etc.
• High motivation and self-awareness.
• Analytical capability.
• Results-driven with strong communication skills.
• Six Sigma Greenbelt+ Certification(s).

Skills

• Strategic Sourcing or Supply Chain Management domain experience.
• Strategic leadership skills.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite.
• Strong working knowledge/experience in business analysis, market research, financial analysis, cost models, procurement/supply chain analysis and supplier performance management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues.
• Ability to work well autonomously and within a team in a fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Business acumen.
• Ability to build a strong business case with data and present it senior management.

Benefits

Competitive Compensation
Comprehensive Benefits Packages
401(k) Match
Employee Stock Purchase Program
Tuition Reimbursement
Commute Benefits
Learning and Development Opportunities
Strong Inclusion and Diversity Initiatives
Company-paid Volunteer Day

Pay

$110,544.00 - $172,725.00

Schedule

Full-time