Sr Procurement Manager - Strategic Initiatives

Ecolab•Saint Paul, MN

22h

About The Position

The Senior Procurement Manager – Strategic Initiatives is responsible for leading enterprise‑level procurement efforts that strengthen supply resiliency, enhance continuity of supply, mitigate risk, support commercial growth, and drive long‑term value across direct materials categories. This role functions as the lead for strategic procurement initiatives, including market‑disruption response (e.g., trade conflicts, tariffs, sanctions, and geopolitical instability), cost‑reduction programs, process optimization, and cross‑functional value‑creation efforts. The position requires strong collaboration with Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, Engineering, Quality, Sales, Marketing, and Product Management.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field required
8 years of procurement or supply‑chain experience, with a focus on direct materials
Demonstrated experience leading large‑scale strategic programs
Experience supporting commercial growth initiatives or partnering with Sales and Product teams
Strong understanding of global supply markets, risk management practices, and cost‑modeling methodologies
Excellent project‑management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously
Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capabilities
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
Ability to work effectively in a matrixed environment and navigate ambiguity
Proficiency with ERP systems, procurement analytics tools, and project‑management software
Working knowledge of AI-enabled procurement tools and automation approaches with the ability to apply them responsibly to improve efficiency and decision quality

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and routinely test the Procurement Action Plan in response to market disruptions such as trade conflicts (tariffs/quotas), sanctions and export controls, geopolitical instability, regulatory changes, logistics constraints, and raw‑material shortages.
Lead cross‑functional scenario planning (e.g., trade‑war escalation, regional conflict, port disruption) and define playbooks for rapid mitigation, including alternative sources, approved substitutions, and demand allocation recommendations.
Establish and monitor supplier and country risk indicators (financial health, capacity, geopolitical exposure, compliance, and logistics), triggering escalations and executive decision points as needed.
Establish program governance, timelines, milestones, KPIs, and reporting structures to ensure consistent execution and accountability.
Provide executive‑level updates and recommendations based on program performance and risk assessments.
Design and execute resilience strategies for critical direct materials (dual sourcing, qualified alternates, safety stock policies, and capacity/lead‑time risk mitigation).
Coordinate rapid response to trade and geopolitical events (tariffs, sanctions, export controls), including supplier communications, contract actions, and cost/availability impact assessments.
Partner with Logistics, Compliance, and Legal to ensure sourcing decisions align with country‑of‑origin rules, forced‑labor regulations, and restricted‑party screening requirements.
Build and maintain executive‑ready dashboards summarizing disruption exposure, mitigation status, and projected customer/financial impacts.
Partner with category managers to develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives and market conditions.
Identify and implement opportunities for cost reduction, value engineering, supplier consolidation, and contract optimization.
Lead cross‑functional teams through complex sourcing events, supplier transitions, and resiliency initiatives (e.g., dual/multi‑sourcing, nearshoring/reshoring, inventory buffering, and supplier capacity assurance) to strengthen supply continuity and responsiveness.
Map critical materials and components to identify single points of failure; prioritize mitigation plans for high‑risk items based on customer impact, lead times, and switching costs.
Support the launch of new sales channels, product lines, and customer programs by ensuring material readiness, supply continuity, and competitive cost structures.
Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Product teams to identify cross‑sell and up‑sell opportunities enabled by supplier capabilities or alternative materials.
Evaluate supplier innovations and emerging technologies that can enable new revenue streams or enhance customer value propositions.
Align procurement strategies with commercial growth plans, pricing strategies, and customer commitments.
Enhance procurement processes related to direct materials, including demand planning integration, supplier performance management, risk monitoring, and escalation protocols.
Drive standardization, documentation, and continuous improvement across sourcing workflows.
Implement tools, dashboards, and analytics to improve visibility, decision‑making, and operational efficiency.
Leverage AI and advanced analytics to automate routine procurement work
Serve as a key liaison between Procurement and internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment on priorities, timelines, and deliverables.
Facilitate cross‑functional meetings, steering committees, and communication forums to support project execution.
Promote adoption of new processes, systems, and strategic initiatives across the organization.
Lead enterprise‑level cost‑savings programs, ensuring initiatives are clearly defined, measurable, and validated with Finance.
Identify new value‑creation opportunities through supplier partnerships, alternative materials, and long‑term strategic agreements.
Track, analyze, and report savings performance, risk‑reduction outcomes, and operational improvements.