Category Buyer - Chemicals

Verdant Specialty Solutions • Houston, TX

7d • Onsite

About The Position

At Verdant Specialty Solutions, we’re a global specialty chemical company serving world-leading brands across personal care, home care, energy, and industrial markets. Based in Houston, TX, our growing team combines the agility of a small business with the scale and standards of a global organization. We are seeking a Category Buyer – Chemicals to take ownership of sourcing and procurement across the Petrochemical and Ethylene/Propylene value chains, including solvents, amines, ethylene oxide, and related derivatives. This is an on-site, full-time role within our Procurement organization. What you will do: Develop and execute category strategies for Chemicals, focusing on cost, quality, supply continuity, and long-term value creation Conduct market intelligence analysis, including pricing benchmarks, cost-driver assessments, should-cost modeling, and competitive research Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Product Management, Sales, and Supply Planning to support new product development and drive commercialization success Lead end-to-end sourcing events such as RFQs and RFPs, manage bid evaluations, and present award recommendations to senior management Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships to gain market insights, enhance competitive positioning, and map value opportunities across the category Challenge the status quo by bringing forward new ideas, driving process improvements, and fostering collaborative innovation both internally and externally Partner with the wider Procurement team to lead and support strategic initiatives and take ownership of new, high-visibility projects, offering meaningful leadership opportunities Develop dashboards and analytical insights using SAP and business intelligence tools to support data-driven procurement decisions

Requirements

• 2-3+ years of experience in procurement or category management with experience of developing category strategies
• STEM degree with strong finance and analytical capabilities preferred
• Strong experience using SAP, BI tools, and Excel
• Hands-on, results-driven mindset with strong communication skills

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies for Chemicals, focusing on cost, quality, supply continuity, and long-term value creation
• Conduct market intelligence analysis, including pricing benchmarks, cost-driver assessments, should-cost modeling, and competitive research
• Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Product Management, Sales, and Supply Planning to support new product development and drive commercialization success
• Lead end-to-end sourcing events such as RFQs and RFPs, manage bid evaluations, and present award recommendations to senior management
• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships to gain market insights, enhance competitive positioning, and map value opportunities across the category
• Challenge the status quo by bringing forward new ideas, driving process improvements, and fostering collaborative innovation both internally and externally
• Partner with the wider Procurement team to lead and support strategic initiatives and take ownership of new, high-visibility projects, offering meaningful leadership opportunities
• Develop dashboards and analytical insights using SAP and business intelligence tools to support data-driven procurement decisions

Benefits

• Competitive base salary, performance-based incentives
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, retirement savings, and generous PTO
• Career growth opportunities in a dynamic, expanding business
• Join a company that’s redefining what it means to be “green” in the specialty chemicals industry.
• Verdant combines decades of technical expertise with a culture of collaboration and growth, giving you the platform to make a measurable impact from day one.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed