Category Buyer- Raw Materials (University Park, IL)

Verdant Specialty Solutions • University Park, IL

2d

About The Position

Verdant Specialty Solutions is seeking a Category Buyer to support strategic sourcing and supplier management for key oleochemical and commodity chemical categories. Reporting to the Procurement Director, the role supports sourcing strategies, supplier negotiations, and opportunities to improve cost competitiveness and supply reliability. The buyer works with domestic and global suppliers and collaborates with Planning, Operations, R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance to support manufacturing operations.

The position includes sourcing raw materials, managing supplier relationships and performance, analyzing costs and commodity markets, supporting supply continuity, and preparing procurement reports using SAP and Excel. It offers the opportunity to develop commodity market expertise, build supplier relationships, and contribute to improvements in procurement performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
• At least two years of procurement, sourcing, supply chain, or commercial experience.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to evaluate supplier quotations, pricing trends, and procurement data.
• Negotiation and supplier relationship management skills, including the ability to evaluate commercial terms and supply risks.
• Proficiency in Excel for spend analysis, reporting, and cost evaluation.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work across functions and with suppliers.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

• Procurement, sourcing, supply chain, or commercial experience in the chemical, oleochemical, or manufacturing industries.
• Experience with SAP or another ERP system.
• Knowledge of raw material procurement, logistics, inventory management, and commodity markets.
• Familiarity with should-cost modeling and total cost of ownership principles.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of sourcing strategies for oleochemicals and commodity chemicals that balance cost, quality, and supply reliability.
• Manage supplier relationships, evaluate supplier capabilities, and support supplier qualification and performance improvement initiatives.
• Negotiate pricing and commercial terms and support contract administration and renewals.
• Analyze supplier quotations, spend data, and pricing trends; develop should-cost models and total cost of ownership analyses.
• Monitor global commodity markets, feedstock pricing, and palm-based value chains to identify trends, supply risks, and cost optimization opportunities.
• Partner with internal teams and suppliers to address supply risks, improve supplier performance, and maintain reliable raw material availability.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities, monitor supplier performance, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Use SAP and Excel to analyze spend, support forecasting, and prepare procurement reports.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level