Logo
Suez Water Technologies & Solutions

Category Management - CSM

Suez Water Technologies & Solutions, Houston, Texas, United States, 77246

Save Job

Overview

Veolia is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees. Specializing in water, energy, and waste management, Veolia designs and implements innovative solutions for decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration, supporting communities and industries in their ecological transformation. Within this framework, Water Tech assembles a dedicated team of experienced professionals committed to addressing the world's most complex challenges related to water scarcity, quality, productivity, and energy. Together, we pursue a shared mission to create a more sustainable future. North American Regional Category Manager - Chemicals The Regional Category Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing sourcing and procurement strategies in their region in alignment with the Global Category teams and the Regional Business Lines. This role drives supplier performance, negotiates cost efficiencies, ensures supply continuity, and supports the company\'s cost, quality, and sustainability objectives. The ideal candidate possesses strong technical and business acumen, as well as deep knowledge in chemical raw material sourcing, water treatment, and relevant chemical markets, with experience in the relevant industry.

Key Characteristics

Develop, lead, and implement end-to-end sourcing strategies for chemical raw material categories for both specialty and commodity chemicals.

Deep industry knowledge in chemical markets, strong business acumen, and demonstrated cross-functional leadership.

Strategic thinker and able to work in a collaborative, double matrix, and multicultural environment.

Duties & Responsibilities

Category Management & Strategic Sourcing

- Develop and lead end-to-end regional sourcing strategies for key commodity and chemical categories in conjunction with global strategy and market trends.

Perform total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses and market intelligence reviews to inform procurement decisions.

Identify and qualify suppliers aligned with Veolia\'s needs and environmental compliance standards.

Owns the category business goals for the region and reports out to the Global Category Manager and regional team on progress.

Supplier Relationship Management

- Manage strategic supplier relationships, including quarterly business reviews, supplier innovation partnerships, and risk management activities.

Negotiate long-term agreements and mitigate supply risk through multi-sourcing or buffer strategies.

Collaborate with Quality, Technical, and EHS teams to ensure supplier compliance with Veolia\'s specifications, Quality Management Systems, and safety protocols.

Cost Savings & Process Improvements

- Drive year-over-year savings targets through competitive bidding, value engineering, or alternate formulations.

Lead or support cross-functional initiatives to improve procurement operations, sustainability, or product performance.

Stay ahead of market trends in the water treatment and chemical supply chains, including regulatory impacts (e.g., REACH, TSCA, EPA rules).

Operational Support

- Partner with operations, production planning, and logistics to ensure seamless inbound supply of chemicals and raw materials.

Monitor usage trends, coordinate with inventory teams, and proactively address supply-demand imbalances.

Work closely with business lines and finance to ensure accurate price tracking and budget forecasting.

Qualifications

Hard Skills:

Expert in chemical sourcing; strong negotiation, analytical, and project management skills; proficient in ERP/MRP systems (SAP preferred) and Google/Excel modeling.

Soft Skills:

Strategic, inspirational, curious, courageous, humble, holistic, accountable, and ambitious.

Education & Experience Required:

Bachelor\'s Degree in Chemical Engineering or a directly related field. 10+ years of experience in Chemicals Raw Material Procurement, Sourcing, or an equivalent function with deep knowledge of business strategy, procurement strategy & processes, category management, and KPIs. Minimum 10+ years drafting, negotiating, and implementing complex contracts for raw materials in the chemical industry. Demonstrated chemical raw material sourcing, water treatment, and related chemical markets experience.

Preferred:

MBA, Master\'s Degree, and/or certifications such as CPSM, CPM, CPSCM. Experience negotiating and managing chemical suppliers, preferably in the water treatment industry. Experience in matrixed organizations.

Working Conditions:

Annual travel required: 15%.

Additional Information At Veolia, we realize diverse teams make smarter decisions and build stronger communities. We are an equal opportunity workplace.

10% Annual Incentive Bonus Plan

Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance Starting Day 1

Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, AD&D

Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Parental Leave

401(k) Plan with 3% default contribution plus matching

Flexible Spending & Health Saving Accounts

Tuition Reimbursement

Compensation - The salary range is tied to the market for similarly benchmarked roles. The range is not absolute, but a guide, and offers will be based on the candidate\'s knowledge, skills, experience, and market conditions. The final offer may be lower or higher than the stated range: $113,000.00 - $125,000.00.

Disclaimer: Salary and benefits information is accurate as of the posting date. The Company may modify this information. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. The employer will not sponsor for this opportunity.

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.

#J-18808-Ljbffr