Regional Category Manager, Chemicals

Veolia; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 105,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance

401(k) Plan

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

Veolia is seeking a Regional Category Manager to lead end‑to‑end sourcing for chemical categories, drive supplier performance, and negotiate long‑term agreements. The role requires strong commercial acumen and knowledge of water treatment chemical markets, with travel up to 10%.

The candidate will collaborate with Quality, Technical, and EHS teams to ensure compliance with Veolia’s safety standards and sustainability goals across regional business lines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Business, or similar field required; MBA, Master’s Degree and/or CPSM/CPM is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop end-to-end sourcing strategies for chemical categories and materials.
• Lead supplier performance reviews and corrective actions.
• Negotiate long‑term agreements and mitigate supply risk through multi-sourcing.
• Collaborate with Quality, Technical, and EHS teams to ensure compliance with Veolia specifications and safety protocols.
• Partner with operations, production planning, and logistics for inbound supply of chemicals.
• Monitor usage trends and coordinate with inventory teams to address supply-demand imbalances.
• Drive cost savings and lead cross-functional procurement initiatives.

Skills

Sourcing strategies

Total cost of ownership

Supplier relationships

Negotiation

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering or related field

MBA or CPSM/CPM certification a plus

Job description

Company 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:$105K - 110K USD + 10% AIP
• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance Starting Day 1!
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Parental Leave
• 401(k) Plan - 3% default contribution plus matching!
• 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.