Position Overview:

The Director of Direct and Energy Procurement has the overall responsibility for the procurement of all raw materials, energy, technical gases, and packaging. They will oversee the acquisition of all direct materials at the best possible total cost of ownership, in the right quantity, and at the right time, consistent with the needs of WACKER. In addition, this role is responsible for the protection of the Company's assets by ensuring all supplier contracts are signed, administered, and negotiated by Procurement. The Director has responsibility to assure compliance with WACKER regional and global Procurement Policies and Directives including ISO Procurement Procedures. They will have disciplinary and functional leadership of a team of Strategic Procurement Managers and Procurement Agents. 
 

Responsibilities:

• Supervisory responsibility for the team members in the Direct and Energy Procurement team. Responsible for the development, training, discipline and annual performance evaluations of all WACKER US Direct and Energy Procurement employees. Provides overall direction and guidelines to the WACKER US Direct and Energy Procurement team with day to day work activity, strategy development, problem solving, crisis management and key projects. Provides input to the overall Procurement goals and objectives.
• Developing strategy and tactics for the Direct and Energy Procurement categories. Leading the procurement direct maternal function to make the final determination of source of supply, quantities purchased, delivery schedule and price negotiations, except where others are so authorized. 
• Positively manage and collaborate with stakeholders within WACKER divisions/plants and with global Direct Procurement through ongoing communication, follow-up, presentations, and meetings.
• Ensures compliance with regulations and standard processes and that all WACKER US Direct Procurement team members follow WACKER's global Regulations and global/regional directives. Helps to create and maintain WACKER US Direct Procurement cost center operating budget and confirms that actual expenses do not exceed planned operating budget.

Requirements: 

• Bachelor's degree, Master's degree in business preferred
•  7 years' experience in chemical industry at medium to large multinational chemical company, preferably in procurement, marketing, or sales.
• 5 years' negotiating detailed vendor contract experience
• 5 years' direct material procurement experience
• Strong critical and strategic thinking with strong business acumen and the ability to think beyond function and see 'big picture' to help drive strategic/ sound decision making
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills: able to work across all functions and levels of a global matrix organization. Demonstrate the ability to train, develop and build a strong/effective procurement teams. Can also demonstrate implementing successful training and mentoring programs for employees. Can lead by example and show high energy and a strong drive and willingness to succeed. 
• Ability to lead change and maintain high ethical standards. Sound problem solving and organizational competencies. Can demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit and thinking through successful examples. 
• An effective facilitator and motivator. Strong verbal and written skills. Able to influence executive leadership and people at all levels of the company.
• Proven strong knowledge of organic and inorganic raw material markets, along with strong knowledge of upstream and downstream applications and production processes of chemical feedstocks starting with crude oil and natural gas
• Strong knowledge of US energy market, technical gas market, and packaging market
• Able to evaluate and understand cost breakdown of various raw materials, cost drivers, analyze industrial cost curves, etc.
• Understand and interpret company financials, credit worthiness, and how to analyze procurement spend data and forecast spend to help drive strategy and results
• SAP, Microsoft office, Ariba and other computer software systems

• Compensation and Incentive plans
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance effective day 1
• Paid Time Off in addition to personal days and holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Wellbeing fund
• Flexible hybrid work arrangements
• 401(k) with company match
• Education Assistance Program
• Career development and advancement opportunities
• Support for Community Involvement