Sourcing Manager- Chemicals

We are seeking a highly strategic, analytical, and results-driven Sourcing Manager to lead the procurement and strategic sourcing of raw material chemicals. In this role, you will be responsible for managing a robust global supply chain, mitigating market volatility, and driving cost-optimization strategies while ensuring compliance with stringent safety and regulatory standards.

The ideal candidate possesses deep chemical industry expertise, excellent negotiation skills, and a proven track record of building resilient supplier partnerships. You will collaborate closely with Finance, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Operations, Engineering, and Sales & Marketing to secure high-quality chemical raw materials while directly influencing the organization's bottom line.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Develop, execute, and maintain global sourcing strategies for raw material chemicals to support our Home Improvement, Household Products, and Automotive product lines.
• Monitor and report on global chemical market trends, feedstocks, and geopolitical factors to mitigate pricing shifts and supply constraints.
• Market Intelligence & Financial Planning: Evaluate macroeconomic and chemical market trends to provide accurate cost forecasting, collaborating closely with Finance to establish and align annual financial plans and budgetary expectations.
• Value Creation & Cost Optimization: Utilize spend analysis, external market intelligence, and internal business needs to identify, pipeline, and execute cost-saving measures and value-driven initiatives.

Supplier Relationship & Contract Management

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard world-class chemical manufacturers and distributors.
• Lead complex contract negotiations, establishing long-term agreements that optimize cost, supply security, risk mitigation, and quality.
• Segment the supply base and implement a robust Supplier Performance Program utilizing KPIs to track quality, on-time delivery (OTD), supplier performance, and risk mitigation commitments.
• Foster strategic supplier partnerships that drive innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

Risk Mitigation & Compliance

• Build resilient dual- or multi-sourcing strategies to eliminate single-point-of-failure risks for critical chemical raw materials.
• Partner with Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance to ensure all suppliers comply with applicable global standards and regulations, including REACH, RoHS, FDA, EPA, OSHA, ISO, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Manage supply chain disruptions proactively by developing contingency plans and implementing timely corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with company procurement policies, ethical sourcing standards, and applicable trade regulations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with Supply Chain Planning to optimize inventory levels and lead times while preventing stockouts.
• Partner with Operations and Engineering to identify operational and infrastructure improvements that enable more efficient supply, storage, and consumption of raw material chemicals.
• Collaborate with Finance to review variance reports and ensure adherence to annual financial plans and budget targets.
• Educate Sales and Marketing teams on chemical commodity trends impacting cost of goods sold.
• Collaborate with Finance and Marketing to develop cost justification documentation supporting pricing initiatives.
• Support new product development initiatives by sourcing new raw materials and qualifying suppliers.

Qualifications & Skills

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of strategic sourcing or procurement experience within the chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or manufacturing industries.
• Demonstrated experience managing an annual raw material spend portfolio exceeding $40 million.
• Experience with global sourcing, supplier negotiations, and contract management.
• Experience working within ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, or similar enterprise platforms is preferred.

Technical & Professional Skills

• Expertise in spend analytics, cost modeling, and data-driven category management.
• Deep understanding of chemical manufacturing processes, global logistics, and chemical regulatory frameworks.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in formula-based pricing structures, commodity indexes, and forecasting.
• Advanced negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.
• Strong understanding of commercial contracts and business terms.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, or other data visualization and reporting tools.

Soft Skills

• Exceptional analytical, financial forecasting, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels, including executive leadership.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure, and volatile market environments.
• Strong business acumen, sound judgment, and decision-making skills.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Negotiation & Influencing
• Financial & Business Acumen
• Market Intelligence
• Risk Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Continuous Improvement
• Results Orientation
• Integrity & Accountability

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to remain stationary for extended periods while working at a computer.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, virtually, and by telephone.
• Ability to occasionally move or lift materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to work in office, manufacturing, warehouse, laboratory, and supplier environments while complying with all required safety procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to approximately 25–35% of the time based on business needs.

Additional Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel independently as required.
• Ability to successfully complete all pre-employment screenings, including a background check, consistent with applicable law.
• Must maintain the confidentiality of proprietary business, supplier, financial, and customer information.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Barr Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a workplace where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Reasonable Accommodation

Barr Brands is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application process and employment. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process or to perform the essential functions of the position, please contact Human Resources.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties and responsibilities may be modified, expanded, reduced, or reassigned at any time to meet business needs. Employment with Barr Brands is at-will, where permitted by applicable law, and nothing in this job description should be construed as creating a contract of employment.