Tactical Buyer

Requisition ID: 24357
Grace, a Standard Industries company, is a leading global supplier of catalysts, engineered materials and fine chemicals. We provide innovative products, technologies and services which our customers use to manufacture everyday products like renewable fuels, pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, cosmetics, food packaging, beer, edible oils and more. Our thousands of employees help shape a better future at our global headquarters in Columbia, MD and locations worldwide.

Job Description
This role primarily supports procurement of goods and services in the EMEA region, by managing requisitions. Main responsibility is to ensure that all purchase requisitions are properly reviewed for accuracy and converted to purchase orders within 24 hours upon receipt.

Responsibilities (1 Of 2)

• Support of category sourcing that continuously improves suppliers' and contractors' compliance with Safety, Health & Environment and Corporate & Social Responsibility standards.
• Work closely with category managers and business units to establish and deliver procurement requirements, strategic benefits and compliance to existing procurement contracts.
• Follows all SOP's and WI as defined by Grace policies, practices and procedures that ensure risk mitigation and quality standards are met.
• Manage transactional buying activities and support wider strategic category management including converting compliant and approved purchase requisitions to purchase orders within SAP Ariba and SAP ECC platforms.
• Monitor and challenge non-compliant buying activities confirms with suppliers' accuracy and acceptance of PO information and updates as required, including cost, quantity and delivery details.
• Maintain current accurate records and files of all vendor agreements and related procurement records (including material master, info records, source lists).
• Supports continuous improvement results in current purchasing procedures, always focusing on the elimination of waste and non-value-added activities.

Responsibilities (2 Of 2)

• May assist in negotiations and apply basic knowledge of commercial contract law and guidelines, practices and requirements to assess, plan and negotiate best terms and conditions and to minimize risk.
• Maintain sound professional relationships with suppliers. Resolve issues (e.g. pricing, quality, timing, claims, contract disputes, etc.) associated with terms and conditions of service agreements.
• Manage any supplier issues (i.e., cost, quality, delivery, customer service).
• Maintain system data integrity and measure performance on related key indicators (examples: past due purchase orders, open PO acknowledgements, PO expedites, non-conforming material return, and supplier invoice resolution).
• Communicate effectively with representatives in other departments for supply orders, keeping those employees up to date on the status of orders that have already been placed.

Required Qualifications

• Must be fluent in German.
• Good professional command of English language.
• Two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficient in SAP ECC and SAP Ariba Proficient in Microsoft Office applications functional procurement experience supporting tactical activities for direct and indirect categories within a manufacturing organization.
• Ability to operate effectively in different cultures and across geographies, including managing stakeholders and colleagues remotely (across distance and time zones) desirable.
• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to champion the vision of the Procurement organization
• Ability to facilitate several activities at any one time, priorities workload.
• Ability to balance total cost of ownership (TCO), tactical delivery desirable.
• Structured yet flexible. Comfortable with/able to thrive in conditions of change and complexity desirable.
• Ability to drive behavioral change desirable.
• Knowledge of price and cost analysis Strong communication, time-management, problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work well independently and cross-functionally as part of an established and growing team.

Benefits
Guaranteed 14th Month Pay

Above-market Retirement Plan Design

LinkedIn Learning Access

Established Performance Incentive Program

HMO coverage for employees on day 1 (with pandemic coverage)

Free HMO coverage for up to 3 qualified dependents

Educational Assistance

Grace is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Grace via email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Grace. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Grace as a result of the referral or through other means.