Head of Specialty Chemicals Procurement, North America

Solenis

33d•Remote

About The Position

Solenis is a leading global provider of water and hygiene solutions. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, cleaners, disinfectants, and state-of-the-art monitoring, control and delivery systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact, and create cleaner and safer environments. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 78 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over ~23000 professionals in >160 countries across six continents. Solenis is a 2025 Best Managed Company Gold Standard honoree. For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com or follow us on social media. As Head of Specialty Chemicals Procurement, North America, you will report into the Sr. Director, NA Procurement and will be responsible for covering all specialty chemical categories across the organization's different business units in North America. This is a critical role on our Procurement team, with a large, complex scope of responsibilities within the category. You will create foundational value for all stakeholder to create a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Responsibilities will include all aspects of procurement within the specialties category and will work to achieve and exceed quality, cost, and service performance targets for North America operations. You will work with cross-functional teams in North America and globally to create, maintain, and/or change supply strategies to deliver an effective and sustainable Total Cost of Ownership.

Requirements

Bachelors Degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Technical or Business related field.
10+ years of experience in Supply Chain Management, Sourcing/Procurement, and leading projects/teams
5+ years of relevant experience within a manufacturing environment
Experience creating category strategies/SWOT analysis type assessments of supply base
Prior experience performing make/buy decisions that shaped supply chain strategy and produced demonstrated customer service improvements
Strong negotiation skills and the ability to develop and maintain strong supplier relationships.
Demonstrated success in driving cost savings and improving operational efficiencies.
Ability to analyze complex data, identify trends, and develop strategies based on data-driven insights.
Strong understanding of ethical, legal, and environmental standards related to sourcing and supply chain management.
Experience in: project purchasing, contract negotiation and execution, and risk management
Knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles and tools (5S, VSM, Kaizen, KPI’s)
SAP experience preferred.
Must be able learn quickly and work in a challenging environment.
The ability to multi-task with proven follow-through and adherence to changing priorities and deadlines is required.
Strong written and oral communication skills, problem solving and influencing.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Ability to work cross functionally with teams to balance solutions in accordance with budget, schedule and tools.
Professional and effective facilitation skills – should be able to facilitate group discussions.
Attention to detail – should be able to complete accurate data entry and develop accurate written materials.
Action orientated – should be able to follow up on feedback to ensure positive outcomes.
Collaborative team player - should be able to establish solid working relationships with stakeholders.
Professional communication skills – should be able to communicate with peers, customers and vendors both via verbal and written communication.
Technical communication skills – ability to effectively communicate technical concepts, findings & recommendations to all stakeholders.
Ability to influence others to adopt new ways of thinking, change habits, increase engagement, and improve processes.

Nice To Haves

MBA preferred.
SAP experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a sourcing strategy for Specialty Chemicals in partnership with our global team, to achieve cost savings and drive operational efficiencies.
Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure consistent and reliable supply of high-quality products and services.
Identify new supplier opportunities and negotiate favorable terms and conditions to drive cost savings.
Establish and manage supplier performance metrics and KPIs to drive continuous improvement, and ensure supplier compliance with ethical, legal, and environmental standards.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including R&D, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain to ensure alignment and achievement of sourcing goals.
Manage a team of Category Managers , providing leadership, coaching, and development opportunities to drive high performance.
Stay current with industry trends and developments and proactively identify opportunities to enhance the organization's sourcing capabilities.
Identify procurement processes and policies for alignment at the country, region, and global levels
Ensure sourcing strategies support working capital goals of the business.
Build partnerships with Engineering and Project teams to support new product development and introductions.
Where appropriate, develop the procurement strategy for each project.
Collaboratively perform make/buy analysis to help guide sound insourcing/outsourcing outcomes.
Expand RFQ process to ensure relevant stakeholder, technical, and end-user reviews are incorporated, and recorded in the review and decision-making process.
Evaluate and monitor contract performance following placement to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.
Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies to minimize supply chain disruptions and ensure business continuity.
Conduct market analysis and leverage industry intels to identify potential opportunities and risks in the global sourcing landscape.
Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to ensure sourcing activities comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards.
Manage vendor selection and qualification processes to ensure that all suppliers meet the company's quality standards, pricing expectations, and delivery requirements.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging and implementing best practices across the sourcing function.
Work closely with the finance team to develop and manage budgets and forecasts for sourcing activities.