Principal Procurement Manager

LyondellBasell; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

LyondellBasell is seeking a Principal Procurement Manager for Global Technical Materials, Machinery in North America. You will lead high-value sourcing, negotiate terms, and build a resilient supplier network across Pumps, Seals, Compressors, and related equipment, driving value for LYB and its manufacturing sites.

You will partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Project Management, and senior leaders to translate strategy into execution, deliver measurable outcomes, and advance sustainability

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent required.
• 15+ years of experience in procurement, category management, or related field.
• 5+ years in chemical, manufacturing, energy, or asset-intensive industries preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex machinery procurement initiatives and cross-functional collaboration.
• Translate strategy into actionable sourcing plans with clear milestones.
• Develop supplier strategies and improve spend visibility and governance.
• Negotiate commercial terms, manage supplier performance, and ensure contract compliance.
• Drive cost, risk, and sustainability improvements across NA machinery categories.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Supplier relationship management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent

Master's degree or recognized equivalent preferred

Job description

LyondellBasell is a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. With a nearly 70-year legacy that includes a Nobel Prize in Chemistry and our proprietary MoReTec recycling technology, LYB is enabling a more sustainable future for generations to come. LYB develops high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. LYB places high priority on diversity, equity and inclusion and is Advancing Good with an emphasis on our planet, the communities where we operate and our future workforce. We're addressing the global challenges of ending plastic waste, taking climate action, and supporting a thriving society, while generating value for our customers, investors, and society.

Come Join an Inclusive Team

The Principal Procurement Manager is a key member of the Global Technical Materials (GTM) Machinery Team and leads the development and execution of machinery procurement activities, with a primary focus on North America. The role connects global category priorities with regional business needs and translates strategy into clear execution plans, measurable outcomes, and sustainable value.

The position strengthens and further develops the Machinery segments by improving spend and demand transparency, developing category and supplier strategies, and building strong partnerships with Manufacturing, Engineering, Project Management, site teams, and other key stakeholders. The role also develops a competitive, capable, and reliable supplier network.

The role promotes innovation by facilitating ideation sessions and connecting internal experts with strategic suppliers to identify new technologies, improve existing solutions, and create value for LYB.

The Principal Procurement Manager also leads the commercial and contractual framework for turnaround (TA) activities, capital projects, and machinery-related outline agreements in NA. This includes leading negotiations, managing supplier performance (KPI&QBR) and contract compliance, and establishing fit-for-purpose agreements for project-specific and recurring requirements.

Basic Function

• Leads complex, high-value category and sourcing initiatives and influences cross-functional stakeholders without direct reporting authority.
• Translates global and regional procurement priorities into actionable plans, clear milestones, and measurable business outcomes.
• Builds spend and demand visibility, converts identified opportunities into an executable sourcing and value pipeline, and owns its governance, tracking, and realization in line with GTM objectives.
• Builds effective relationships with senior stakeholders and strategic suppliers and drives accountability for agreed actions.
• Acts as a recognized category expert and provides guidance on machinery markets, suppliers, commercial models, risk, and technology trends.
• Leads, coaches, and develops direct reports to build strong capabilities and performance.

Day in the Life

Activities and duties will vary depending on the assigned functional area and may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develops and implements comprehensive machinery category and segment strategies that align with business objectives, approved procurement processes, and sourcing methodology. Categories to include but not limited to include Pumps, Mechanical Seals, Compressors, Turbomachinery, and other related technical materials supplies.
• Uses spend, demand, market, and supplier analysis to identify opportunities, market trends, cost drivers, risks, and competitive sourcing options.
• Builds demand visibility through proactive engagement with manufacturing sites, project teams, business stakeholders, and the Center of Excellence (CoE); translates opportunities into structured sourcing pipelines.
• Establishes practical governance, milestones, and performance reviews to support execution discipline, accountability, timely follow-up, and delivery of procurement objectives.
• Leads strategic sourcing initiatives, RFQs, supplier evaluations, and commercial recommendations for complex machinery requirements.
• Develops and negotiates commercial frameworks, pricing, legal terms, and contract conditions for turnaround activities, capital projects, and machinery-related outline agreements.
• Ensures that category plans reflect stakeholder requirements, manufacturing needs, technical requirements, project schedules, logistics considerations, risk, and business economics.
• Applies total cost of ownership and life-cycle cost principles to develop sustainable value beyond initial purchase price.
• Develops and leverages regional and global supplier markets to create competitive advantage, strengthen supply resilience, and support business growth.
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with stakeholders, business partners, and suppliers, including at senior leadership level.
• Leads supplier performance reviews against agreed KPIs and SLAs and drives corrective actions, continuous improvement, and value-creation initiatives.
• Facilitates supplier and stakeholder ideation sessions to identify new technologies, digital solutions, productivity improvements, and opportunities for standardization.
• Partners with Manufacturing, Engineering, GAI&T, project teams, and strategic suppliers to support the introduction of new technologies and solutions.
• Identifies and manages commercial, supply, technical, geopolitical, and sustainability risks within the assigned categories and supplier base.
• Integrates sustainability considerations into sourcing decisions and supplier development activities; follows up on agreed improvement actions.
• Leads Advancing Supplier Potential (ASP) initiatives and other supplier development programs within the assigned scope.
• Drives digitalization and data transparency with business partners and key suppliers to improve decision-making and productivity.
• Constructively challenges process and strategy deviations, drives improvements in procurement effectiveness and compliance,

You Bring This Value

• Influencing and leading without direct authority in a complex matrix organization.
• Translating strategy into actionable plans, milestones, and measurable outcomes.
• Leading complex sourcing, contracting, and negotiation activities.
• Using data, market intelligence, and performance measures to support decisions and track results.
• Building strategic relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers, including senior-level partners.
• Communicating and presenting clearly to technical, commercial, and leadership audiences.
• Working independently, managing ambiguity, and prioritizing multiple high-value initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Creating alignment across Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering, Project Management, and other functions.
• Leading change, challenging established approaches constructively, and driving continuous improvement.
• Applying strong analytical judgment, strategic thinking, and risk management.
• Working effectively across cultures and geographies, with an appreciation of different business practices and communication styles.
• Using data analytics, AI, and other digital tools responsibly to improve insights, efficiency, and execution.
• Demonstrating an innovative mindset and a long-term view of category and supplier development.
• Actively supporting LYB sustainability objectives and responsible sourcing expectations.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent required; master's degree or recognized equivalent preferred.
• A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in procurement, category management, strategic sourcing, contracting, or a related commercial field is required. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of experience in the chemical, manufacturing, energy, or a related asset-intensive industry is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing category or segment strategies and leading complex sourcing initiatives is required.
• Experience with machinery, capital projects, turnaround activities, technical services, or related categories is strongly preferred.

Competencies

Build Partnerships

Deliver Results

Drive Innovation

Grow Capabilities

Promote Inclusion

Motivational Fit

Technical Skills

Learn more about our benefits : Benefits/Health & Welfare | LyondellBasell

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