Procurement Director - Direct Raw Materials and Energy

Oxea GmbH•Houston, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Procurement Director is responsible for leading and optimizing the procurement of all direct materials across North America, including raw materials, energy, catalysts, supplies, and site services. This role combines strategic leadership with operational execution, driving cost competitiveness, supply reliability, and continuous process improvement. The Procurement Director will lead a team of buyers, drive measurable EBITDA and Working Capital improvements, and implement strategies that enhance supplier relationships, inventory management, and overall procurement efficiency. The position will act in accordance with the Group’s Mission, Vision, Values & Strategies, as well as policies, guidelines and international standards, supported by an IT Technology platform, and HSE standards. This role plays a critical part in ensuring reliable plant operations while supporting business growth and profitability through effective sourcing strategies.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Finance, Business or related field required
Relevant experience as a professional purchasing director who has held a highly professional procurement role acquiring direct materials, energy and services in the chemical industry.
10+ years of progressive procurement experience, including leadership responsibility for strategic sourcing and direct materials procurement within the chemical or petrochemical industry.
Prior director-level or equivalent leadership experience preferred.
Strong understanding of commercial contracting, sourcing governance, and competitive bid processes.
Working knowledge of Microsoft, Excel, Power Point, Word and ERP (SAP) systems.
Experience leading a team.
Strong leadership, negotiation, and contract management skills.
Experience leading remote teams and stakeholders.
Expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, and category management.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Proficiency in procurement software, ERP systems (SAP), and advanced Excel skills.
Ability to develop and implement KPIs and dashboards for performance tracking.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across functions.

Nice To Haves

MBA strongly preferred.
Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) certification strongly preferred.
Experience working in international markets is an added advantage.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of procurement professionals, fostering a high-performance culture focused on strategic sourcing and procurement excellence.
Set clear objectives and performance metrics for the team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Support the growth and development of team capabilities in sourcing, analytics, and supplier management.
Develop and Execute a Direct Materials procurement long term strategy.
Partner with Business Lines (Marketing & Sales) to understand demand drivers, product strategies, and customer requirements, ensuring procurement actively supports revenue growth, margin management, and market competitiveness.
Implement category management strategies and contracts that align with company objectives.
Lead supply risk management activities, including mitigation of market volatility, supplier dependency, geopolitical exposure, and supply disruptions to ensure continuity of supply.
Lead complex contract negotiations, including long-term, index-based, and capacity agreements, ensuring risk mitigation and commercial advantage.
Ensure supplier compliance with applicable regulatory, environmental, and safety standards, in alignment with company HSE policies.
Drive cost control initiatives with a measurable contribution towards EBITDA improvement.
Identify and record cost avoidance successes with a financial impact, ensuring continuous value creation.
Present quarterly updates on improvement initiatives, demonstrating progress and financial impact.
Influence plant users and suppliers to achieve optimal inventory management, reducing excess stock while ensuring availability.
Implement initiatives for inventory optimization across all categories, balancing cost and operational efficiency.
Define, Implement and Monitor KPIs for on-time delivery of ordered items, driving supplier performance.
Develop and implement dashboards and KPI reporting tools that provide real-time insights into procurement performance and supplier activity.
Lead procurement process improvement initiatives, streamlining workflows and reducing cycle times.
Act as a key link between supply chain, operations, sales, marketing, finance, and other departments to ensure alignment on procurement needs and strategies.
Provide guidance and training to internal stakeholders on procurement best practices and policy adherence.