Job Description:

Lead Category Manager, Chemical Raw Materials

Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals with 2022 revenues of approximately $8 billion from our continuing operations. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 60 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 30 countries and employ approximately 7,000 associates within our continuing operations. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at .

Here, you can make an impact and make a difference. Come join us.

Job Scope

We are currently looking for a dynamic individual to step into the Lead Category Manager - Chemical Raw Materials role at our global headquarters in The Woodlands, TX. As the Lead Category Manager, you are responsible for the execution of Huntsman's Americas regional procurement strategy as it relates to raw materials, chemicals, packaging and toll manufacturing for Huntsman's Advanced Materials manufacturing facilities. The role will manage the procurement of chemicals for the assigned purchasing portfolio, within the set purchasing policies and guidelines, to ensure uninterrupted and timely supply in line with the objectives of the business stakeholders. This includes supplier relationship management and contract development to ensure security of supply. This position will lead junior positions and act as a subject matter expert and coach on strategic sourcing methodology that drives a culture of agility, collaboration and optimization. The Lead Category Manager works to ensure that purchasing related needs and overall business strategies are delivered within the agreed timeline.

As the Lead Category Manager, Chemical Raw Materials you will:

• Collaborate with Americas Business and Procurement leadership to develop and maintain strategic sourcing and category management strategies while ensuring productive multi-level supplier relationships.
• Establish and maintain close lines of communication with the production facilities, supply chain, and business centers regarding the procurement of materials in the desired quantities and desired delivery requirements.
• Provide information/forecast as needed to support business center and operational decision making.
• Provide Purchasing and Business Leadership with guidance, reports and updates on supplier issues and materials markets and develop professional presentations on these topics to be communicated up and down the organization.
• Individually lead key categories and represent Huntsman in strategic supplier relationships.
• Negotiate term and spot raw material and chemical supply contracts as required by Huntsman Business Centers with a keen focus on ensuring goods are competitively priced and strategically purchased.
• Ensure that goods are obtained from approved sources, meet existing quality and performance standards using proper purchasing practices which include ISO, Sarbanes-Oxley and Purchasing procedures while ensuring lowest Total Cost of Ownership and maximum value to bottom line.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and developmental training to direct reports in a manner that promotes professional growth, job success and organizational upskilling.
• Business related travel, business related functions and extended office hours as required.
• Work with internal EH&S and QA departments to track and mitigate supplier nonconformance issues.
• Create sourcing events in procurement system.
• Respond to urgent requests for mid to high complexity requirements and supplier relationships.
• Compile and review information to create long-term forecast for key suppliers.
• Apply continuous improvement mindset to Strategic Sourcing processes and bring ideas forward for implementation. Scope includes understanding business/site needs.
• Actively participate and take initiative on small scale strategic projects.
• Identify root cause of complex issues and work with others as needed to address/correct at the source of the issue.
• Monitor and measure supplier performance against contract terms.
• Understand contract terminology and be able to identify areas of concern.
• Prepare draft contracts in alignment with stakeholder strategy.
• Monitor supplier contract performance via reports and stakeholder input.

Required Qualifications:

You must possess the below minimum qualifications to be initially considered for this position. Preferred qualifications are in addition to the minimum requirements and are considered a plus factor in identifying top candidates.

The candidate must have an unrestricted right to work for Huntsman in the United States.

• A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Purchasing and Supply Chain, Finance, Business Administration or Engineering with 5-10 years related experience in the field of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement in the Chemical Industry.
• Strong understanding of procurement and sourcing tools and process (SAP, Ariba, etc).
• Strong understanding of Microsoft Office package and demonstrated results, including data analytics.
• Strong understanding of commercial contract negotiation and terminology.
• Professional level of English language skillset is required (additional languages may be required/preferred depending on region).
• Knowledge of more than one market or purchasing stream.
• Experience with Sourcing/Procurement tools and methodologies, RFI, RFQ, RFP, Bids Evaluations, cost models, strong negotiation skills for pre and post contract award.
• Root cause analysis, decision making process, stakeholder relationship management, supplier performance management, and problem-solving skills and experience are required.
• Leadership skills: demonstrated experience driving positive results through teams in a challenging and fast-paced environment. Ability to positively influence, coach, and lead others.
• Ability to drive change and breakthrough performance improvement across a team.
• Communicates tactfully and effectively both verbally and in writing and maintains effective work relations with those encountered during the course of employment.
• Flexibility and adaptability to new instructions and/or dynamic organizational priorities is critical for job success.
• An aptitude for analytical thinking and analysis is critical to job success.
• An aptitude for both strategic and creative thinking is critical to job success.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional Supply Chain and Purchasing certification, such as SCMP, CPSM, CPSD, CPSQ, etc. will be a plus.
• Knowledge of chemical raw materials and feedstocks, Huntsman businesses and markets is a plus.

Huntsman offers unsurpassed opportunities to build a successful future. Our diverse portfolio creates a range of career fields including manufacturing, research and development, technical services, sales and marketing, customer service - and the list goes on.

Here, you can make an impact and make a difference. Come join us.

Huntsman is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all qualified applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identification, sexual orientation and/or expression or any other characteristic protected by law in every location in which we have facilities national or local.

Please refer to for Company's Data Privacy and Protection information.

All unsolicited resumes presented by recruitment agencies are treated as pro bono information or service.

Huntsman is aware of a scam involving fraudulent job offers. Huntsman does not makejob offers until after a candidate has submitted a job application and has participated in a face-to-face interview. Please be advised that emails from Huntsman always end in "@huntsman.com" and that any job offer that requires payment or requires you to deposit a check is likely a scam. If you have questions about any open positions at Huntsman, please visit our Careers website at

Additional Locations: