Director, Procurement - Lubricants & Chemicals

Pilot Thomas Logistics; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) after 30 days

Job summary

Pilot Thomas Logistics in Knoxville, TN seeks a Director of Procurement for Lubricants & Chemicals to lead strategic sourcing, supplier relations, and rebate programs. You will manage a procurement team, drive cost savings, and oversee nationwide vendor contracts while coordinating with finance, operations, and the technical team. This role requires a strong track record in lubricants/chemicals and multi-site leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in a relevant field.
• Minimum 8+ years in procurement with lubricants or chemicals favored.
• Experience managing multi-site teams and large-scale supplier contracts.
• Strong negotiation and vendor management skills.
• Proven ability to drive cost savings and manage rebates.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing for lubricants and chemicals across a nationwide network.
• Direct a procurement team and align with executive leadership.
• Negotiate master agreements and manage supplier relationships.
• Oversee price changes, budgeting, and rebate programs (e.g., Chevron).
• Coordinate with Accounts Payable and cross-functional teams on invoicing and vendor specs.
• Drive procurement process improvements and ERP data quality.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Supplier management

Team development

Cross-functional collaboration

Budget oversight

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain / Business / Chemistry / Engineering

Tools

Coupa

ERP systems

Job description

The Director, Procurement - Lubricants & Chemicals leads the strategic sourcing, negotiation, and supplier management for all lubricant and chemical product lines across our nationwide network. In this role, you will manage a team of professionals and drive organizational transformation to better support PTL, our vendors, and customers.

Candidates are able to live in one of the following markets: DFW, Phoenix, Houston, or Knoxville.

• Pay: Competitive base salary plus a bonus structure.
• Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance offered the first of the month after 60 days of employment. 401k available after 30 days.

Essential Functions:

• Conduct cost verification/root-cause analysis for negative margin reports
• Manage monthly pricing changes for key chemical categories (DEF, TEG, Methanol)
• Perform financial reconciliations, including vendor reconciliation reports and Chevron Rebate reconciliation, and approve freight logistics costs via Coupa
• Maintain strategic relationships with Tier-1 and Tier-2 manufacturers and suppliers; negotiate master agreements to drive cost savings and secure commercial terms
• Source new vendors to expand the product portfolio and mitigate nationwide supply risk;
• Conduct forecast and stock-level analysis to align nationwide procurement schedules with demand, optimize inventory turns, and prevent stockouts; drive deadstock initiatives to reduce slow-moving inventory
• Direct cross-functional projects and execute special projects assigned by executive leadership
• Coach and mentor buyers to elevate team capability and support their professional growth
• Partner with Accounts Payable to resolve open items and clarify lube-related invoice/credit postings; collaborate with the Technical Team on product changes, vendor technical requirements, and quality specifications
• Drive systems improvement by optimizing procurement workflows, standard operating procedures, and ERP data
• Maintains compliance with all PTL policies and procedures
• Other duties as assigned

Management Functions:

• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable federal, state, and local employment laws
• Selects, trains, develops, and evaluates staff; addresses performance issues in a timely manner in partnership with HR
• Communicates goals, priorities, and organizational changes to direct reports
• Set goals for individual team members and area of oversight that align to company strategic goals
• Appraise team members performance against individual, departmental, and company goals and provide constructive and timely feedback to improve performance when needed
• Monitors and manages budget/cost center responsibilities for area of oversight
• Monitors, manages, and approves overtime for hourly team members where applicable, PTO requests, and leaves of absence for team members in Workday
• Ensures compliance with company policy and applicable regulations within area of responsibility
• Address complaints and resolve problems, up to and including recommending disciplinary action or termination in partnership with HR
• Analyzes complex business challenges, identifies root causes, and develops scalable solutions that align with long-term company goals
• Promotes a transparent work environment, acts with high ethical standards, and ensures compliance with internal policies and external regulations
• Listens actively to diverse perspectives, remains approachable across all organizational levels, and prioritizes collective team success over individual recognition
• Mentors and empowers direct reports, supports continuous professional growth, and builds high-performing, resilient teams
• Navigates changing business needs, remains calm under pressure, and successfully leads teams through organizational shifts and market uncertainty
• At least 8+ years in procurement, with at least 5 years specifically in lubricants or chemicals, preferred
• At least 3+ years of direct people management and buyer coaching in a multi-site environment, preferred
• Strong experience managing complex rebate programs (e.g., Chevron) and margin protection
• Experience with procurement and spend management tools (e.g., Coupa, advanced ERPs)
• Proven track record of closing high-value, complex commercial contracts

Education:

A Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Chemistry, or Engineering is preferred