Sourcing Director at Nexpera LLC – Newark, Delaware

NEXPERA leads the way in sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide regeneration, offering a comprehensive range of products and services that optimize processes, minimize environmental impact, and allow our partners to focus on their core operations. With the industry’s largest facility network, we ensure unmatched reliability and drive innovation across the industrial landscape. In addition, we provide an unmatched array of sulfur-based chemicals and related services to a diverse set of industries.

POSITION PURPOSE

Nexpera provides mission critical services to the refining, chemical, health care, and pharmaceutical industries through regeneration of spent sulfuric acid streams and production of various grades of sulfuric acid, both fuming and non-fuming. Sulfuric acid is a critical component in chemical synthesis and material processing for a wide array of end use applications. Our organization is highly committed to Process Safety, Environmental Stewardship, and Operational Excellence.

Nexpera focuses on the regeneration of sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide. The business is comprised of 13 manufacturing locations across the United States. This position will be responsible for working with suppliers to develop and manage strategic agreements to ensure that the operating sites have the supplies, services, logistics, and support that they need to operate efficiently and cost-effectively.

PRIMARY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES (but not limited to):

• Responsible to develop and execute category strategies across all spend categories aligned with business objectives.
• Manage a team of 2-3 direct reports to ensure business needs are met.
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify industry trends, potential suppliers, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Lead sourcing projects from inception to completion, including RFP/RFQ processes, negotiations, and contract management.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand business requirements and translate them into effective sourcing strategies.
• Manage supplier relationships and performance, ensuring compliance with agreements and service level expectations.
• Analyze spend data and market intelligence to identify cost reduction opportunities and implement cost savings and efficiency improvement initiatives.
• Develop and maintain category performance metrics and reporting.
• Ensure procurement policies and procedures are understood and adhered to by the organization.
• Deliver supplier relationship strategies in line with supplier segmentation, category strategy and business needs.
• Provide subject matter advice to internal and external customer groups addressing current/future business needs, demonstrating marketplace knowledge.
• Lead and influence customer groups with sound and articulate case recommendations with quantifiable financial benefits.
• Ability to effectively communicate strategies, drive decisions, and challenge partners.
• Effectively drive cross-category and cross-functional collaboration where ‘overlapping’ partner groups, geographic regions and / or requirements exist.
• Manage, minimize and mitigate supply/contractual/regulatory risk by bringing to bear other key functions where appropriate.
• Develop and model multiple cases to demonstrate the potential opportunities and impact of options across a category.
• Develop baseline cost analysis and cost models to accurately represent sourcing strategies.

Qualifications

In order to be qualified for this role, the following is required:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher and 10 years of Procurement experience with any combination of Finance, Engineering, Contract Manufacturing, Logistics, or Raw Material experience; OR Associate’s degree and 10-15 years of Procurement with any combination of Finance, Engineering, Contract Manufacturing, Logistics, or Raw Material experience.
• Proven track record of delivering cost savings and process improvements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with proficiency in data analysis tools.
• Demonstrated, excellent negotiation and communication skills.
• Capability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and pivot as necessary to support a vibrant, customer focused supply chain team.
• Experience with e-sourcing tools and procurement systems.
• Proficient in use of SAP or other similar ERP system.
• Knowledge of contract law and supplier relationship management.
• Solid understanding of procurement/sourcing/category management methodologies.
• Demonstrated capability to develop and manage supplier relationships.
• Excellent and disciplined project management and prioritization skills with ability to react to project adjustments and alterations promptly and efficiently.
• Ability to adjust and conform to shifting priorities. Proven capability to work independently and proactively is essential.
• Strong eye for business in order to quickly understand functional/category dynamics and develop category strategies that drive value.
• Ability to deliver complex multi-regional projects in a matrixed environment.
• Broad knowledge of the market forces shaping a supplier’s business context.
• Ability to understand external market information, including ability to conduct benchmarking to address cost, quality, risk and innovation considerations.
• Ability to understand cost drivers, internal costs and future demand and requirements.
• Ability to provide thought leadership, ability to influence and actively shape strategy.
• Strong financial savvy and problem-solving skills.
• Strong executive communicator with the ability to create and communicate complex cases in a simple and effective manner.
• Ability to identify gaps, develop scope, and run RFQ’s to meet business needs.
• Solid working knowledge of word processing applications and spreadsheets.
• Good understanding of supply chains and logistics functions.
• Develop reports to analyze spending patterns and deliver cost savings.

The following skill sets are preferred by the site:

• Relevant Procurement, Purchasing, or Supply Chain certifications preferred.
• Professional certification (e.g., CPSM, CPM, CSCP) is a plus.
• Successful candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This hybrid position will be office-based with some opportunity for remote work from home. The successful candidate will be located at either the Newark, DE or Houston, TX offices. Some travel between offices and to visit plant sites or suppliers will be expected (<25%). The Nexpera team is small, agile, and flexible so the work is fast-paced and varied

BENEFITS

Nexpera's comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off policies, as well as health, dental and vision insurance. In addition, employees are also entitled to participate in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan, to save for retirement. Pay and benefits for employees represented by a union are outlined in their collective bargaining agreement.

Additional information

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer! All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

This job description is a general description of essential job functions. It is not intended as an employment contract, nor is it intended to describe all duties someone in this position may perform. All employees are expected to perform tasks as assigned by supervisory personnel, regardless of job title or routine job duties.