Strategic Sourcing Manager

Buckman•Memphis, TN

21h

About The Position

Buckman is a privately held, global specialty chemical company with headquarters in Memphis, TN, USA, committed to safeguarding the environment, maintaining safety in the workplace, and promoting sustainable development. Buckman delivers exceptional service and innovative solutions to our customers globally in the pulp and paper, leather, and water treatment sectors to help boost productivity, reduce risk, improve product quality, and provide a measurable return on investment. Purpose of Job Responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies for Direct Materials (Raw Materials and PFR), ensuring alignment with business goals, cost targets, and quality standards. This role manages supplier relationships, negotiates commercial terms—including total cost, pricing, payment conditions, and savings opportunities—and continuously evaluates sourcing processes for improvement. The Strategic Sourcing Manager also supports cross-functional collaboration with R&D, sales, and operations teams in the introduction of new products and innovations, while monitoring market conditions to anticipate risks and maintain supply continuity. This position is accountable for managing an annual spend of approximately USD 40M

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Chemistry, Engineering, Finance, or related areas
Job Experience: 4-6 years
Proficient at SAP, Excel, PowerPoint
Solid business/financial/supply chain acumen
Ability to lead cross functional teams
Strategic sourcing for complex sourcing scenarios
Ability to negotiate win-win agreements
Legal and regulatory compliance expertise
Supplier relationship management skills
Action Oriented - Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
Manages Conflict - Handling conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise
Courage - Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said
Drives Results - Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances

Responsibilities

Develop and implement sourcing strategies for Raw Materials and PFR categories, ensuring alignment with business objectives and maximizing supplier performance
Conduct RFPs, should-cost analyses, and market benchmarking to secure competitive pricing and payment terms, identify cost drivers, and uncover savings opportunities
Manage supplier performance, monitor contract validity, and lead strategic renegotiations to ensure favorable and sustainable commercial terms
Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, implementing SRM strategies to support long-term collaboration and performance improvement
Ensure accuracy and timely updates of commercial conditions and pricing in SAP, maintaining compliance with current agreements and procurement policies
Report portfolio performance, project progress, and cost-saving achievements to support data-driven decision-making on agreed cadence
Lead cross-functional Strategic Sourcing projects, incorporating Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and global collaboration
Monitor market trends, supplier innovation, and emerging technologies to introduce forward-looking procurement solutions
Conduct detailed market scoping and supplier assessments to uncover new sourcing opportunities
Analyze market dynamics and competitive intelligence to inform procurement strategies and support business innovation
Continuously evaluate market conditions, supply chain dynamics, inflation, and demand shifts to assess their impact on cost structures, sourcing strategies, and material availability
Identify and assess financial, operational, strategic, compliance, regulatory, and environmental risks across the supplier base and broader supply chain
Monitor vulnerabilities such as geopolitical instability, cost volatility, and supply disruptions, evaluating both likelihood and potential impact
Develop and implement changes in approach or risk mitigation strategies based on evolving market conditions—including contingency planning, alternative sourcing, and supplier diversification—to ensure business continuity and safeguard operations
Integrate risk assessments into supplier evaluations and sourcing decisions to proactively manage exposure
Communicate actionable insights, risks and mitigation plans to internal stakeholders to ensure alignment, awareness, and preparedness across the organization
Build and maintain strong relationships with local and international suppliers to ensure reliable delivery, resolve pricing, invoicing, quality, and delivery issues, and foster long-term collaboration
Develop and implement supplier development programs to enhance quality, performance, and compliance with company standards
Negotiate favorable terms that balance risk mitigation with service levels and pricing commitments
Monitor supplier performance using KPIs, audits, and regular reviews to ensure alignment with business objectives
Lead continuous improvement and innovation initiatives with suppliers to boost supply chain agility and competitiveness
Qualify and evaluate suppliers according to ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environmental), and ISO 45001 (Health & Safety) standards
Conduct supplier audits and manage corrective action plans to maintain ISO and ESG compliance
Integrate ESG requirements and ISO standards into supplier selection, development, and contract management
Maintain accurate and complete audit documentation for internal and third-party compliance reviews
Support corporate ESG reporting by ensuring supplier data aligns with sustainability and regulatory frameworks