Regional Category Manager, Chemicals

Veolia Water Technologies; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range

Health insurance

Life Insurance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Parental leave

401(k) Plan

FSA/HSA

AD&D Insurance

Disability Insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Veolia Water Technologies seeks a Regional Category Manager to lead end-to-end sourcing for chemical categories and key raw materials in the region.

You will drive supplier performance, negotiate long-term agreements, and coordinate with Quality, Technical, EHS, Operations, and Finance to ensure cost, quality, and sustainability objectives are met. Travel up to 10% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Business, or similar field required; MBA, Master’s, and/or CPSM/CPM/CPSCM a plus.
• Minimum five (5) years experience in Procurement or Supply Chain with knowledge of strategy, category management, and KPIs.
• Experience negotiating and managing suppliers within the Chemical industry, preferably water treatment.
• Strong technical expertise in chemical sourcing and ability to work in a matrixed, multicultural environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead end-to-end sourcing strategies for chemical categories and key raw materials.
• Perform TCO analyses and market intelligence reviews to inform procurement decisions.
• Identify and qualify suppliers aligned with Veolia’s needs and environmental standards.
• Negotiate long-term agreements and mitigate supply risk through multi-sourcing or buffers.
• Collaborate with Quality, Technical, and EHS teams to ensure supplier compliance.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Business, or similar field

MBA or CPSM/CPMSCM

Procurement strategy & category management

Cross-functional leadership

Supplier relationship management

Market intelligence & TCO analyses

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 cross-functional leadership.

• 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) years experience 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 within the water treatment industry
• Strong technical expertise and subject matter expertise in chemical sourcing
• Experience in working in different cultures and environments in 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 and benefits 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: $125K - 140K USD + 10% annual bonus potential
• 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.