Global Category Leader

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including consumer, industrial, institutional, food and beverage, and pool and spa water markets. Owned by Platinum Equity, the company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, and cleaners and disinfectants, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact, and create cleaner and safer environments.  

Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 69 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 16,100 professionals in 130 countries across six continents. Solenis is a 2024 US Best Managed Company, recognized fouryears in a row. For more information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com. 

As Global Category Leader you will serve as the strategic procurement point of contact in the CIO’s Leadership Team and work on behalf of Procurement and IT to implement IT’s strategic visions and objectives.   The role will partner with IT Leadership, functional stakeholders, budget owners and regional procurement staff in the effective, strategic management of assigned IT categories.  Strategic responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the development and implementation of global sourcing strategies, the management of RFI’s and RFP’s, the negotiation and development of contracts, supplier evaluation and selection, cost savings and working capital improvements and assistance with the resolution of critical supplier performance issues.  Assigned categories may include hardware, software, SaaS, IT services and telecommunications.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with the IT team, functional stakeholders, budget owners and the regions through regular communications and value added procurement support
• Be the internal and external reference point for IT related procurement questions on assigned categories
• Translate IT objectives and strategies into regional or global sourcing strategies and work closely with functional stakeholders and the regions to execute accordingly.  Manage cross-functional efforts to identify and implement improvement opportunities (included but not limited to, outsourcing, demand management, globalization of supply, supplier consolidation, reducing supply complexity and renegotiation of existing contracts)
• Oversee, complex, cross-functional sourcing activities ensuring engagement and buy in from IT, functional stakeholders and the regions through the process
• Assess contracts to identify business opportunities and mitigate risk
• Develop annual cost savings and working capital improvement plans and supplier performance targets
• Execute PFIs/RFP’s and oversee supplier negotiations as required
• Ensure a smooth transition of new sourcing initiatives to IT Operations and assist IT with resolution of critical supplier performance issues
• Ensure appropriate risk mitigation strategies are an intrinsic part of sourcing and contract development efforts. Performance metrics and extended pay terms should also be considered
• Present the status of strategic sourcing projects, improvement initiatives, performance to budget and category strategies to executives, stakeholders, budget owners and regions
• Ensure a strategic procurement approach is considered in all IT sourcing activities
• Remain up to date on market and category trends and implement improvements accordingly
• Improve working capital performance through extension of pay terms
• Negotiate rebates into contracts where appropriate
• Participate in the review and update of category related policies
• Support as a mentor to junior category manager and leads
• Ensure compliance with corporate product, procedural, regulatory, environmental and corporate social responsibility policies
• Supplier led innovation

Requirements/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in administration/IT or related field of study.  MBA or master’s degree in supply chain/Procurement, highly desirable
• 10 years of global procurement experience with at least 5 years of managing IT spend in a multinational corporate environment
• Experience developing and negotiating complex IT contracts
• Ability to work autonomously and perform against tight deadlines with multiple priorities
• Excellent analytical, presentation, problem solving and multi-tasking skills including PowerPoint and Excel
• Outsourcing, data warehousing and SaaS agreement experience preferred
• SAP and Coupa experience preferred
• Expert negotiation skills – Should be able to drive optimum value through award of commercially sound contracts
• Professional communication skills – Should be able to communicate with peers, customers and vendors internally and across cultures
• Professional and effective facilitations skills – Should be able to facilitate group discussions across cultures and to executive level
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment – Should be able to multi-task with proven follow-through and adherence to changing priorities and deadlines
• Attention to detail – Should be able to follow up on feedback to ensure positive outcomes
• Collaborative team player – Should be able to establish solid working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally – up to 10% travel
• Excellent information management skills and strong in the use of Microsoft Office, including the ability to write reports and spreadsheets to a high standard using Excel and Word.

This role is hybrid in the Wilmington headquarters #LI-hybrid

We understand that candidates will not meet every single desired qualification.  If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to learn more about you.

At Solenis, we understand that our greatest asset is our people. That is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits which include medical, dental, vision & 401K, and numerous opportunities for professional growth and development. So, if you are interested in working for a world-class company and enjoy solving complex challenges, whether in the lab or the field, consider joining our team.

Solenis is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer, including Minorities / Women/ Veterans / Disabled.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Should you require assistance in applying to this opportunity, please reach out to Solenis Talent Acquisition at [email protected]