Indirect Purchasing Manager

Panasonic • De Soto, KS

4h • Onsite

About The Position

The Indirect Purchasing Manager is a recognized procurement expert responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining end‑to‑end purchasing strategies across a broad range of indirect spend categories, including professional services, contingent labor, MRO, manufacturing equipment, consumables, facilities operations, and related services. This role drives value beyond cost savings by integrating data‑driven decision‑making, supplier performance management, demand optimization, process improvement, and risk mitigation. The position partners cross‑functionally with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and global teams to optimize purchasing operations, enhance system integration, and improve inventory and receiving processes. The role emphasizes continuous improvement, compliance with procurement policies, and the application of advanced analytics to support operational excellence and business outcomes in a complex manufacturing environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Finance, or a related STEM or business discipline
• Relevant work experience may be substituted for required education
• 5+ years of progressive indirect purchasing or procurement leadership experience, with demonstrated accountability for end-to-end category ownership and business outcomes
• Proven experience developing and executing indirect procurement strategies, including category strategy development, supplier segmentation, and value delivery beyond cost savings
• Demonstrated success leading complex negotiations and managing commercial risk through effective contract structures and supplier governance
• Strong working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies, with experience supporting manufacturing or operational improvement initiatives
• Advanced analytical and financial acumen, including the ability to analyze spend data, identify cost drivers, evaluate total cost of ownership, and support data-driven decision-making
• Experience managing procurement projects and initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and tight timelines
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with a proven ability to influence cross-functional partners and senior leaders without direct authority
• Experience utilizing supplier relationship management (SRM) tools, performance scorecards, and formal supplier review processes (e.g., QBRs)
• High proficiency with procurement and sourcing technologies, including e‑sourcing platforms, ERP systems (e.g., SAP or Ariba), and advanced Excel-based analysis
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in global, matrixed organizations, including collaboration with offshore or remote teams
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with experience facilitating meetings, leading executive-level discussions, and presenting recommendations
• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English
• Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree (MBA or MS) in a related discipline
• ISM CPSM
• Lean Six Sigma Certification (Green Belt or higher)
• 7+ years of progressive purchasing leadership experience
• Bilingual or multilingual capabilities (e.g., Japanese, Spanish)
• Experience in high-volume manufacturing procurement, preferably within the energy storage, automotive, or electronics industries
• Experience leveraging data, analytics, or digital procurement tools to improve spend visibility, supplier performance, or demand management
• Experience supporting procurement system implementations, upgrades, or process transformations (e.g., ERP, e‑sourcing, or supplier management platforms)
• Exposure to sourcing or managing indirect spend related to capital equipment, facilities, or large-scale manufacturing operations
• Experience supporting supplier risk management, business continuity, or procurement resilience initiatives

Responsibilities

• Functional Leadership & Operations:
• Lead and oversee end‑to‑end indirect purchasing operations, providing subject‑matter expertise across assigned indirect spend categories to ensure optimized cost, service, and operational performance.
• Drive and govern procurement strategies, policies, and procedures, ensuring consistent execution and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Provide operational leadership for purchasing system integration, including vendor onboarding, master data governance, and coordination of ERP and related tools in partnership with IT, Finance, and Inventory teams.
• Ensure purchasing activities meet internal customer requirements and service level expectations while maintaining efficiency and accuracy across purchasing and receiving processes.
• Provide purchasing oversight and support related to inventory and receiving discrepancies, coordinating with suppliers and internal partners to ensure timely resolution and process improvement.
• Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:
• Develop and execute indirect category strategies informed by spend analytics, supply market intelligence, total cost of ownership analysis, and business requirements
• Identify and lead value‑creation initiatives beyond sourcing, including demand management, process optimization, value engineering, insource versus outsource evaluation, and innovation opportunities
• Apply advanced analytical techniques to evaluate spend patterns, cost drivers, consolidation opportunities, and performance trends to support data‑driven decision‑making
• Monitor external market trends, supplier capabilities, and industry best practices to proactively enhance procurement effectiveness and resilience
• Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:
• Support cross‑site resource planning and task alignment between Kansas and Nevada operations to enable continuity, flexibility, and effective workload distribution
• Facilitate knowledge transfer, role clarity, and operational hand‑offs to strengthen indirect procurement capabilities and mitigate business disruption due to personnel changes
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to ensure procurement solutions align with business needs and operational priorities
• Lead supplier performance management activities, including issue resolution, capability development, and ongoing engagement to support operational effectiveness
• Gather, validate, and translate business requirements into procurement solutions through effective collaboration with functional and category stakeholders
• Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:
• Enforce compliance with procurement policies, procedures, and internal controls while promoting adoption and standardization across the organization
• Identify root causes of supplier, system, or process performance issues and lead corrective actions in collaboration with internal and external partners
• Support risk management efforts related to supplier performance, operational continuity, and compliance within the indirect purchasing function
• Supervisory Responsibilities:
• This position will have direct and indirect reports and provides strategic direction, guidance, and performance oversight to ensure alignment with organizational goals

Benefits

• Health Benefits – Offering 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. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
• Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
• On-site Food Options: Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees