Sr. Indirect Sourcing Analyst

About the role

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation. Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for complex indirect spend categories, including construction, design services, capital equipment, tooling, and OPEX expenditures.
• Serve as the sourcing lead for construction, design, capital project, and tooling-related procurement activities, leveraging knowledge of construction materials, contract structures, insurance requirements, and project delivery methods.
• Lead end-to-end procurement activities, including scope development, RFx management (RFI, RFQ, RFP), supplier evaluation, bidder engagement, contract negotiations, and supplier selection.
• Negotiate and administer supplier, consultant, and contractor agreements, including Statements of Work (SOW), Master Service Agreements (MSA), Master Purchase Agreements (MPA), and other commercial contracts.
• Conduct enterprise-wide spend analysis, total cost of ownership assessments, and market intelligence reviews to support sourcing decisions and category strategies.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships and serve as the primary point of contact for key suppliers.
• Lead supplier performance reviews and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive accountability, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Develop compelling business cases and sourcing recommendations to support investment prioritization and strategic procurement decisions.
• Identify and implement opportunities to reduce costs, improve supplier performance, mitigate risk, and streamline procurement processes.
• Lead sourcing and supplier optimization initiatives supporting operational efficiency and long-term business objectives.
• Utilize data analytics, ERP systems, and reporting tools to monitor spend, identify trends, and drive informed decision-making.
• Champion procurement governance, policy compliance, standardization, and best practices across the organization.
• Support procurement transformation, continuous improvement, and sourcing excellence initiatives that enhance stakeholder value and operational performance.
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior sourcing and procurement team members on sourcing methodologies, negotiation strategies, category management, and supplier relationship management.
• Share market intelligence, category expertise, and procurement best practices to strengthen team capabilities.
• Promote procurement best practices and contribute to the development of sourcing and procurement capabilities across the organization.
• Support onboarding and development activities for new team members as needed.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for strategic sourcing and category management activities.
• Partner with Design, Construction, Supply Chain, Legal, Risk Management, Finance, and business stakeholders to support successful project execution and procurement outcomes.
• Collaborate with global procurement teams to ensure alignment with corporate sourcing strategies, sustainability initiatives, and business objectives.
• Influence sourcing, contracting, and investment decisions through data-driven recommendations presented to management and senior leadership.
• Present sourcing recommendations, supplier performance updates, market intelligence, and project outcomes to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships across the organization to ensure sourcing initiatives effectively support operational and strategic priorities.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, contractual requirements, applicable regulations, and ethical sourcing standards.
• Manage sourcing governance, procurement policies, templates, and contracting processes.
• Support supplier risk management activities, including mitigation planning, performance monitoring, and escalation management to minimize supply chain disruptions.
• Maintain accurate sourcing documentation, contracts, and procurement records.
• Champion procurement excellence through governance, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Follow all company safety policies, procedures, and PPE requirements when accessing operational, construction, or manufacturing environments.

Travel Requirement: Up to 10% domestic and international travel as business needs require.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements: To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, STEM, or a related field (relevant experience may be substituted for required education).
• 7+ years of strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, or supply chain experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in supplier relationship management, contract negotiation, sourcing strategy development, and cost/risk optimization.
• Experience leading complex sourcing initiatives across construction, capital equipment, tooling, engineering services, professional services, or other indirect procurement categories.
• Strong knowledge of RFx processes, supplier evaluation and selection, contract administration, category management, and procurement best practices.
• Advanced analytical capabilities, including spend analysis, total cost of ownership modeling, market intelligence, business case development, and data-driven decision-making.
• Advanced proficiency with ERP systems, procurement technologies, Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and reporting tools.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects, influence stakeholders at multiple levels, and drive measurable business outcomes in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Excellent business acumen, communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.
• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English.
• Alignment to Panasonic’s seven core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree (MBA, MS in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Engineering, or related discipline).
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, or SAP Procurement Certification.
• 10+ years of strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, or supply chain experience.
• Experience sourcing construction, engineering, capital equipment, tooling, professional services, IT, or other high-value indirect spend categories.
• Experience supporting large-scale manufacturing facilities, industrial construction projects, capital expansions, or greenfield developments.
• Knowledge of construction contracts, procurement practices, project delivery methods, and supplier risk management.
• Experience with strategic category management, procurement transformation, supplier optimization, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience working with global teams, including familiarity with Japanese business culture.
• Experience in battery manufacturing or related industries, including automotive, electronics, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor, or energy storage.
• Lean, Six Sigma, procurement certifications, and/or bilingual English-Japanese proficiency.

Physical Demands

Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 50%
• Walk: 30%
• Stand: 20%

Required Lifting and Carrying:

• Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional (1-33%)
• Up to 20 lbs.: Occasional (1-33%)
• Up to 35 lbs.: Rare (<1%)
• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Rare (<1%)

Benefits

• Health Benefits – Medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
• Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
• Health Management and Wellbeing Programs – Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date.
• Employee Recognition Program – High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition.
• Annual Bonus Program.

Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.