Principal Buyer

Job Summary

The Procurement Principal Buyer supports TPC Group's safe, reliable, and cost-effective operations by leading complex sourcing initiatives and procuring materials and services that deliver the best total value to the organization.

About the role

Reporting to a Category Manager, this role independently executes complex sourcing and contracting activities in support of assigned category strategies and business priorities established by the Category Manager while serving as a procurement resource for internal stakeholders and other members of the Procurement team.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Sourcing and Category Strategy Execution
• Execute sourcing initiatives and commercial negotiations consistent with category strategies, procurement priorities, and business objectives established by the Category Manager.
• Lead competitive sourcing events (RFPs, RFQs, auctions, and negotiations), ensuring a fair, transparent, and compliant procurement process.
• Analyze supplier proposals using commercial, financial, operational, and risk considerations to develop well-supported sourcing recommendations.
• Negotiate complex commercial agreements, pricing structures, contract terms, and service level expectations to achieve optimal business outcomes.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, procurement procedures, delegated authority requirements, and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) controls.
• Supplier and Contract Management
• Develop and maintain strong commercial relationships with strategic suppliers while serving as the primary procurement contact for assigned supplier portfolios.
• Manage supplier performance by monitoring contract compliance, service quality, delivery performance, commercial issues, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Lead resolution of complex supplier performance and commercial issues in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Manage contracts throughout their lifecycle, including implementation, amendments, renewals, and closeout.
• Identify supplier risks and collaborate with stakeholders to develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Support supplier qualification activities, audits, and contractor compliance requirements, including ISNetworld and other applicable supplier management processes.
• Analytical and Leadership
• Analyze spend data, supplier performance, and market conditions to identify sourcing opportunities and commercial improvements.
• Develop financial analyses including total cost of ownership evaluations, pricing comparisons, savings analyses, and business cases supporting sourcing recommendations.
• Monitor commodity markets, supplier capabilities, and industry trends to provide market intelligence to internal stakeholders.
• Track and report savings realization, contract compliance, supplier performance, and other procurement performance metrics.
• Evaluate commercial alternatives and recommend solutions balancing cost, risk, operational requirements, and long-term value.
• Stakeholder Collaboration and Influence
• Serve as a trusted procurement advisor by understanding stakeholder objectives and providing commercially sound sourcing recommendations.
• Lead cross-functional sourcing teams involving Operations, Maintenance, Capital, EHSS, Finance, Legal, and other business functions.
• Build consensus among stakeholders during sourcing events while balancing operational priorities, commercial objectives, and procurement best practices.
• Anticipate procurement risks, supply disruptions, and commercial issues, proactively developing solutions before they impact the business.
• Present sourcing recommendations, negotiation strategies, and supplier evaluations to stakeholders and leadership in alignment with Category Manager direction.
• Continuous Improvement & Knowledge Sharing
• Identify and implement procurement process improvements that enhance efficiency, compliance, and stakeholder experience.
• Promote adoption of procurement best practices, sourcing tools, and standard work processes.
• Mentor Buyers and Associate Buyers by sharing procurement knowledge, commercial expertise, and lessons learned.
• Support development and refinement of procurement templates, sourcing methodologies, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain awareness of procurement trends, market developments, and emerging technologies to improve procurement effectiveness.
• Strategic Procurement Execution
• Anticipate sourcing, supplier, and commercial challenges and proactively develop solutions before they impact operations.
• Execute sourcing strategies for assigned categories in partnership with the Category Manager, providing market intelligence and commercial recommendations to improve business outcomes.
• Independently execute complex sourcing events (RFPs, RFQs, tenders, auctions, and negotiations) from planning through contract execution.
• Analyze supplier proposals, commercial terms, total cost of ownership, supplier risk, and market conditions to develop well-supported sourcing recommendations.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations and contract reviews, balancing commercial objectives, operational requirements, and risk.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, delegated authority requirements, contract standards, and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) controls.
• Supplier & Commercial Management
• Develop and maintain strategic supplier relationships that promote reliability, innovation, continuous improvement, and long-term value.
• Monitor supplier performance and collaborate with internal stakeholders to resolve commercial issues, improve supplier performance, and mitigate supply risk.
• Manage contracts throughout their lifecycle, including implementation, amendments, renewals, compliance monitoring, and closeout.
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, commercial optimization, and cost savings while supporting broader procurement objectives.
• Business Analysis & Performance
• Analyze spend, supplier performance, market trends, and cost drivers to identify sourcing opportunities and improve procurement performance.
• Develop and maintain financial analyses, including total cost of ownership models, cost comparisons, business cases, and savings analyses to support sourcing decisions.
• Track and communicate procurement performance metrics, including savings realization, supplier performance, contract compliance, and other key performance indicators.
• Continuous Improvement & Leadership
• Identify and implement procurement process improvements that enhance efficiency, compliance, stakeholder experience, and business value.
• Leverage technology, data analytics, and market intelligence to improve procurement effectiveness and decision-making.
• Mentor and share knowledge with Buyers and Associate Buyers, promoting procurement best practices and continuous development.
• Apply structured problem-solving techniques to resolve complex procurement challenges and drive sustainable process improvements.
• Adapt quickly to changing business priorities, market conditions, and operational requirements while maintaining focus on delivering results.

Qualifications

• Minimum education, experience, certifications, and skills.
• Preferred: Nice-to-have but not essential qualifications.
• Minimum Requirements
• Minimum Requirements ☒ Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or a related field required (equivalent combination of education and relevant procurement experience may be considered)
• 8-10 Years Of Experience
• Certifications (if any): Professional procurement certification such as CPSM, CPSD, CPM, or equivalent preferred
• Master's Degree Preferred
• This hybrid role operates in a professional office and/or plant administration environment, with a typical expectation of 3–4 days per week in the office and flexibility to work remotely based on business needs.
• Regular visits to operating facilities, warehouses, contractor work areas, and supplier locations are required to support sourcing activities, supplier evaluations, stakeholder engagement, and project execution.
• The position requires the ability to safely access industrial plant environments while complying with all applicable safety requirements and personal protective equipment (PPE) standards.
• Standard working hours apply; however, occasional travel and flexibility to support critical business needs, supplier meetings, negotiations, turnarounds, or project milestones may be required.
• All applicants must be eligible to work for any employer in the United States without needing any company sponsorship.