Lead Site Buyer - Seneca, SC

BASF Catalysts

28d•Onsite

About The Position

Leveraging its deep expertise as the global leader in catalysis and precious metals, BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS) serves customers in many industries including automotive, aerospace, indoor air quality, semiconductors and hydrogen economy, and provides full loop services with its precious metals trading and recycling offering. With a focus on circular solutions and sustainability, ECMS is committed to helping our customers create a cleaner, more sustainable world. Protecting our elements of life is our purpose and this inspires us to ever-new solutions. ECMS operates globally in 15 countries with approximately 20 production sites and over 4,000 employees. As a Seneca Site Lead Buyer you will LEAD by………. As a leader you will be responsible for overseeing daily operational purchasing activities, guiding the site buying team, ensuring compliance with procurement processes, and serving as the primary liaison between site functions, suppliers, and global support organizations. This role ensures continuity of supply, drives process improvements, strengthens supplier relationships, and supports all site operations in achieving business objectives. The Site Lead plays a critical role in ensuring procurement excellence at the site level by combining operational execution, strategic supplier management, process improvement, and cross‑functional collaboration. This position ensures that all purchasing activities support business continuity, cost efficiency, and high standards of compliance, while also strengthening the supplier ecosystem that enables the site’s long-term success.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required preferably in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related field; master’s degree is a plus.
Minimum 7 years of professional experience in Procurement or related functions such as Supply Chain, Engineering or Operations required
2+ years of experience in leading procurement individuals with different levels of procurement experience required
High level of ownership, analytical thinking, and business acumen.
Proven track record in Procurement category management, strategy development and supplier negotiations.
Experience in SAP S4Hana with monitoring and collaborating with businesses to assist with order orders and daily escalations

Nice To Haves

master’s degree is a plus

Responsibilities

Ensure all site-level activity is compliant, auditable, and aligned with Internal procurement rules
Own end‑to‑end performance for assigned categories, from stakeholder alignment and supplier selection through negotiations, contracting, risk management, and ongoing cost and value delivery.
Lead complex, high‑value negotiations across assigned categories and site scopes, using fact‑based approaches and disciplined risk assessment in line with ECMS standards.
Maintain clear, proactive communication with suppliers and internal customers regarding shipment issues, order delays, quality concerns, and rush requirements; escalate issues when necessary.
Provide daily coaching, problem‑solving support, and guidance to the site procurement team to ensure efficient execution of all purchasing activities.
Act as liaison and key stakeholder for all core site functions including Projects, Maintenance, Operations, Laboratory and Distributions.
Collaborate closely with Legal and business stakeholders to support negotiation cycles, coordinate revisions, and finalize agreements—often requiring multiple negotiation rounds.