Regional Category Manager, Chemicals

Bilfinger; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

FSA / HSA

AD&D Insurance

Disability Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Veolia is seeking a Regional Category Manager to develop and implement sourcing strategies for chemicals, ensuring supplier performance and cost efficiency. You will drive TCO analyses, risk mitigation, and cross-functional collaboration, aligning with global category teams and regional business lines.

The role requires strong commercial acumen in water treatment chemical markets, a minimum of five years in procurement, and the ability to operate in a matrixed, multicultural environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or business is required.
• MBA or professional procurement certification is a plus.
• Minimum of five years in procurement or supply chain roles.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead end-to-end sourcing strategies for chemicals and materials.
• Negotiate long-term agreements and manage supplier relationships.
• Coordinate with Quality, Technical, and EHS to ensure compliance.
• Drive cost savings and perform TCO analyses with market intelligence.

Skills

Procurement experience

Supplier management

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic sourcing

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering or Business

MBA / CPSM / CPM / CPSCM (optional)

Certifications in procurement (advantage)

Job description

Veolia is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees. Specializing in water, energy, and waste management, Veolia designs and implements innovative solutions for decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration, supporting communities and industries in their ecological transformation. Within this framework, Water Tech brings together a dedicated team of experienced professionals committed to tackling the world’s most complex challenges related to water scarcity, quality, productivity, and energy. Together, we pursue a shared mission to create a more sustainable future.

Job Description

The Regional Category Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing sourcing and
procurement strategies in his/her region in alignment with the Global Category teams and Regional
Business Lines. This role drives supplier performance, negotiates cost efficiencies, ensures supply
continuity, and supports the company’s cost, quality, and sustainability objectives. The ideal candidate
brings strong commercial acumen, deep industry knowledge in water treatment chemical markets, and

• Develop and lead end-to-end sourcing strategies for chemical categories and key specialty and commodity raw materials.
• Strong commercial acumen, deep industry knowledge in chemical markets, and cross-functional leadership.
• Strategic thinker and able to work in a collaborative, matrixed, and multicultural environment.
• Perform total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses and market intelligence reviews to inform procurement decisions.
• Identify and qualify suppliers aligned with Veolia’s needs and environmental compliance standards.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships, including performance reviews, corrective actions, and innovation partnerships.
• Negotiate long-term agreements and mitigate supply risk through multi-sourcing or buffer strategies.
• Collaborate with Quality, Technical, and EHS teams to ensure supplier compliance with Veolia’s specifications and safety protocols.
• Partner with operations, production planning, and logistics to ensure seamless inbound supply of chemicals and raw materials.
• Monitor usage trends, coordinate with inventory teams, and proactively address supply-demand imbalances.
• Work closely with business lines and finance to ensure accurate price tracking and budget forecasting.
• Drive year-over-year savings targets through competitive bidding, value engineering, or alternate formulations.
• Lead or support cross-functional initiatives to improve procurement operations, sustainability, or product performance.
• Stay ahead of market trends in water treatment and chemical supply chains, including regulatory impacts (e.g., REACH, TSCA, EPA rules).
• Up to 10% travel

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Business, or similar field required,an MBA, Master's Degree and/or certification like CPSM, CPM, CPSCM is a plus
• A minimum of five (5) yearsexperience in Procurement, Supply Chain function, or an equivalent function with knowledge of business strategy, procurement strategy & processes, category management and overall execution of procurement KPIs.
• Experience in negotiating and managing suppliers within the Chemical industry, preferably withinthe water treatment industry
• Strong technical expertise and subject matter expertise in chemical sourcing
• Experience in working in different cultures and environmentsin a matrixed organization

Additional Information

At Veolia, we realize diverse teams make smarter decisions, deliver better results, and build stronger
communities. We’re an organization that champions diversity and inclusion at every rung of the ladder
and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Because our people are our greatest assets, we
also offer competitive compensation andbenefits that include:

• Compensation - The salary range is tied to the market for similarly benchmarked roles. The range is not an absolute, but a guide, and offers will be based on the individual candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, and market conditions, as well as internal peer equity. Depending upon all the preceding considerations for the final selected individual candidate, the offer may be lower or higher than the stated range:$120K - 128K USD + 10% annual bonus potential
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Flexible Spending & Health Saving Accounts
• AD&D Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this
posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable
law.

****Applicants are required to be eligible to lawfully work in the U.S. immediately; employer will not
sponsor applicants for U.S. work authorization (e.g. H-1B visa) for this opportunity****

Veolia does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiting firms. All vendors must have a
current and fully executed MSA on file before submitting candidates. Any unsolicited resumes and
candidate profiles will be deemed the property of Veolia, and no fee will be due.

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.