Head of Purchasing executes the Business Unit's purchasing strategies to ensure their effective implementation within the Americas purchasing priorities and KPI's.  Organization and steering of all local purchasing activities with the aim of contributing value to the group by realizing cost savings for materials and services and ensuring adherence to delivery dates.

Main Accountabilities:

1. Implementation of the global category and supplier strategies on site in order to support the achievement of the objectives.
2. Negotiation of purchasing agreements with suppliers for direct and indirect materials to ensure their reliable and safe supply at the most competitive prices according to materials specifications and standards and ensure contracting where appropriate.
3. Developing and maintaining professional relationships with suppliers as well as ensuring close cooperation with technology, internal counterparts and Supply Chain management team.
4. Assessment, auditing and monitoring of supplier performance according to agreements and defined standards to initiate and implement corrective actions in case of deviations.  Establish list of preferred suppliers.
5. Adequate support and development of junior buyers to carry out their activities.
6. Apply best-practice processes, tools, and techniques, in accordance with purchasing governance, processes, standards and procedures.
7. Maintain preferred supplier lists, corporate contracts and framework agreements.
8. Maintain master data, provide reports and manage information/data as required.
9. Through collaboration with Global Category Management, Technology and Supply Chain Management, plan, define and monitor proper execution of regional/divisional direct and indirect materials purchasing strategies within budgets and objectives and define and implement corrective actions.

Qualifications:

1. Minimum 5 years of experience in Purchasing
2. Good general purchasing background, combined with solid Supply Chain Management skills.
3. SAP proficiency strongly preferred
4. Solid commitment to continuous improvement and positive 'can-do' attitude.
5. Bachelor's or Master's degree preferred
6. Understanding of Key Raw Materials and industry experience preferred
7. Expert in systems and process implementation for purchasing support Direct/Indirect purchasing
8. Problem solver, highly agile, able to move into and out of a variety of key business subjects.
9. Understands key buying strategies.

Ideal candidate would be local to Morganton, NC

This position could work from home a few days per week or so.

This position reports to the Business Unit Head.