Category Manager- CSM

Veolia Environnement SA•Norfolk, VA

59d

About The Position

North American Regional Category Manager - Chemicals The Regional Category Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing sourcing and procurement strategies in their region in alignment with the Global Category teams and the Regional Business Lines. This role drives supplier performance, negotiates cost efficiencies, ensures supply continuity, and supports the company’s cost, quality, and sustainability objectives. The ideal candidate possesses strong technical and business acumen, as well as deep knowledge in chemical raw material sourcing, water treatment, and relevant chemical markets, with experience in the relevant industry. Key Characteristics: Develop, lead, and implement end-to-end sourcing strategies for chemical raw material categories for both specialty and commodity chemicals. Deep industry knowledge in chemical markets, strong business acumen, and demonstrated cross-functional leadership. Strategic thinker and able to work in a collaborative, double matrix, and multicultural environment.

Requirements

Expert: Demonstrate subject matter expertise in the field of chemical sourcing.
Strong negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
Proficient in ERP/MRP systems (SAP preferred) and Google and Excel-based modeling.
Strategic: Gets the big game. Understands long-term. Respects short term but doesn’t get hung up in the noise.
Inspirational: Ability to inspire/ motivate others.
Curious: Ability to pose high-impact questions, seeing opportunities in areas where others see problems.
Courageous: Champions ideas and helps transform them into actions.
Humble: Respectful towards peers, team members, leadership, and stakeholders.
Holistic: Think customer and company first.
Accountable: Demonstrates responsibility, ownership, and commitment. Taking responsibility for making tough calls when necessary.
Ambitious: Identifies underlying truths and comes up with ideas that change the way we conceptualize issues, depicting a vision of the future that rallies teams to compete in new ways.
Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering or a directly related field.
Minimum 10+ years of experience in Procurement, Supply Chain function, or an equivalent function with knowledge of business strategy, procurement strategy & processes, category management, and overall execution of procurement KPIs.
Minimum 10+ years of experience drafting, negotiating, and implementing complex contracts for raw materials within the chemical industry.
Demonstrated chemical raw material sourcing, water treatment, and relevant chemical markets, with experience in the relevant industry. Proven experience in the chemical raw material sourcing, water treatment, and related chemical markets within the industry.

Nice To Haves

MBA, Master's Degree, and/or certification like CPSM, CPM, CPSCM
Experience in negotiating and managing suppliers within the Chemical industry, preferably within the water treatment industry
Experience working in a matrixed organization

Responsibilities

Develop and lead end-to-end regional sourcing strategies for key commodity and chemical categories in conjunction with global strategy and market trends.
Perform total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses and market intelligence reviews to inform procurement decisions.
Identify and qualify suppliers aligned with Veolia’s needs and environmental compliance standards.
Owns the category business goals for the region and reports out to the Global Category Manager and regional team on progress.
Manage strategic supplier relationships, including quarterly business reviews, supplier innovation partnerships, and risk management activities.
Negotiate long-term agreements and mitigate supply risk through multi-sourcing or buffer strategies.
Collaborate with Quality, Technical, and EHS teams to ensure supplier compliance with Veolia’s specifications, Quality Management Systems, and safety protocols.
Drive year-over-year savings targets through competitive bidding, value engineering, or alternate formulations.
Lead or support cross-functional initiatives to improve procurement operations, sustainability, or product performance.
Stay ahead of market trends in the water treatment and chemical supply chains, including regulatory impacts (e.g., REACH, TSCA, EPA rules).
Partner with operations, production planning, and logistics to ensure seamless inbound supply of chemicals and raw materials.
Monitor usage trends, coordinate with inventory teams, and proactively address supply-demand imbalances.
Work closely with business lines and finance to ensure accurate price tracking and budget forecasting.