Category Manager - Chemicals

Penta Search Group; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Penta Search Group is seeking a Category Manager – Chemicals to lead strategic sourcing across actives, surfactants, alcohols, extracts, and other raw materials. You will drive RFx processes, negotiate long-term agreements, and build strong supplier relationships to improve cost, quality, and continuity.

The role requires 8–12+ years in procurement or category management with deep experience in chemical materials.

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years in procurement or category management.
• Experience sourcing chemical raw materials such as actives, surfactants, alcohols, extracts.
• Proven success in complex negotiations and supplier management.
• Strong analytical skills with spend analytics and supplier performance metrics.
• Excellent stakeholder management for cross-functional teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Chemistry, or related.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies for key chemical spend categories.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives (RFx), supplier negotiations, and long-term agreements.
• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships to improve cost, quality, and supply continuity.
• Analyze market intelligence, spend data, and supplier performance to identify savings and risk mitigation.
• Partner with Manufacturing, R&D, Quality, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain to align sourcing strategies.
• Support manufacturing sites with supplier escalations and local negotiations.
• Develop category dashboards, KPIs, and reporting to measure performance.
• Drive supplier innovation and procurement best practices across the organization.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Negotiations

Spend analytics

Cross-functional influence

Chemicals knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business

Job description

Port Jervis, NY OR Chatsworth, CA | Hybrid

A leading global manufacturer serving the beauty, personal care, pharmaceutical, and consumer products industries is seeking a Category Manager – Chemicals to lead strategic sourcing initiatives across key direct material categories. This is an opportunity to join a high-performing procurement organization where you'll influence global sourcing strategies, optimize supplier performance, and drive measurable value across a complex manufacturing network.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute category strategies for key chemical spend categories including actives, surfactants, alcohols, extracts, and other raw materials.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives (RFx), supplier negotiations, and long-term commercial agreements.
• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships while improving cost, quality, innovation, and supply continuity.
• Analyze market intelligence, spend data, and supplier performance to identify cost savings and risk mitigation opportunities.
• Partner with Manufacturing, R&D, Quality, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain to align sourcing strategies with business objectives.
• Support manufacturing sites with supplier escalations, local negotiations, and continuity of supply.
• Develop category dashboards, KPIs, and reporting to measure supplier and category performance.
• Drive supplier innovation, continuous improvement, and procurement best practices across the organization.

What We're Looking For

• 8–12+ years of procurement or category management experience within direct materials.
• Strong experience sourcing chemical raw materials such as actives, surfactants, alcohols, extracts, solvents, or specialty chemicals.
• Demonstrated success leading complex negotiations, strategic sourcing initiatives, and supplier relationship management.
• Strong analytical skills with experience leveraging spend analytics, market intelligence, and supplier performance metrics.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline.

Preferred Background

Experience within one or more of the following industries is highly desirable:

• Beauty & Personal Care
• Cosmetics
• Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
• Pharmaceutical
• Home Care
• Chemical Manufacturing
• Contract Manufacturing / Co-Manufacturing

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• High-impact role with visibility across procurement and manufacturing leadership.
• Opportunity to shape sourcing strategy for critical chemical categories.
• Collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement and supplier innovation.
• Join a stable, growing global organization with a strong manufacturing footprint and significant investment in procurement excellence.