Manager, Indirect Sourcing and Procurement

Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability.

About the role

This is a full-time position, based in Kingsport, TN (preferred with remote option), reporting to the Director of Indirect Sourcing and Procurement. The Manager, Indirect Sourcing for Corporate Services and IT has primary sourcing responsibilities for Top Tier Vendors, with leadership responsibilities for their team supporting activities within these categories. This position requires partnering closely with IT, Legal, Finance, and other stakeholders to execute sourcing strategies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Information Technology and Professional Services category strategy development with a cross-functional category team to:
  • Act as a trusted business partner to IT leadership and internal stakeholders.
  • Create the situation assessment for the category including internal and external assessments, analysis of the business requirements, value chain, and capability assessments (SWOT, 5-Forces, SCP, cost curves, etc.).
  • Lead option generation that includes commercial, specification, and demand levers and choices of what the company will and will not do.
  • Prioritize category strategy option execution in alignment with business, technology, and manufacturing requirements.
• Conduct IT/Professional Services category management activities.
• Lead initiatives that deliver value (cost savings or value to functional area) utilizing project management skills and change management techniques.
• Track the performance of spend to understand price and volume variances; make adjustments to approaches based on results.
• Develop and lead supplier relationship teams, where applicable, to drive continuous performance improvement (annual target development, quarterly progress, etc.).
• Develop supplier engagement plans for major suppliers.
• Conduct supplier development activities to identify additional potential suppliers.
• Lead sourcing events for the IT and Professional Services category:
  • Lead and conduct RFIs and RFPs utilizing an eRFx tool as the preferred method of engagement.
  • Negotiate contracts and amendments as necessary to deliver the category strategy and ongoing cost advantage.
• Ensure pricing is managed per the contract and approve all price increase requests by suppliers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree required (business, engineering, science, or supply chain); Master’s Degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of commercial experience, preferably in a corporate setting (prior chemical industry experience is not necessary).
• Previous exposure to procurement, sourcing, or commercial experience such as contract negotiations, market assessments, and strategy frameworks (e.g., Porter analysis, SWOT analysis) is strongly preferred.
• Five years of project and/or program management background.

Skills

• Strong ability to communicate verbally and in writing to build consensus with individuals and stakeholder groups in a variety of situations.
• Experience dealing with complex vendor relationships to deliver optimum value for Eastman.
• Experience with Information Technology ERP Software (SAP) or systems specification, capability, and normal commercial offer terms for large enterprises (>1000 users).
• Experience with problem-solving in a structured manner using data and problem-solving frameworks.
• Demonstrated capability to learn new techniques and quickly apply them (action orientation).
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in challenging situations.

Pay

The base salary range for this position is $144,000 to $198,000. Compensation is based on qualifications and experience. Candidates are encouraged to discuss their salary questions during the interview process.

Benefits

• Compensation & Incentives: Base pay plus performance-based incentive opportunities.
• Health & Wellness:
  • Comprehensive medical, prescription-drug, and dental coverage.
  • Health Savings Account option.
  • Voluntary benefits including vision, optional life, and critical-illness protection.
  • Holistic wellness support: financial-planning tools, family-building assistance (adoption, pregnancy, and fertility resources), parental leave, and confidential Employee Assistance Program counseling.
• Retirement & Financial Strategies:
  • 401(k) with a company match plus an additional annual retirement contribution from Eastman.
• Time Away: Eleven paid holidays, one personal day, paid time off, and paid vacation.
• Growth & Development: Access to mentorship, learning resources, and leadership programs.