Bulk Chemicals Procurement Manager
Job Overview
The Bulk Chemicals Procurement Manager is responsible for managing the global procurement of bulk chemicals, including benzene and other aromatic products. The role leads both long-term contract and spot procurement activities, develops and maintains strategic relationships with overseas suppliers, and drives sourcing strategies to ensure a stable, cost-effective, and resilient supply of raw materials.
The position plays a key role in supporting the continuous operations of the company’s manufacturing facilities by balancing supply security, procurement costs, market opportunities, inventory requirements, and supply chain risks.
Key Responsibilities
1.Procurement Strategy & Market Analysis
- Develop and implement annual and medium-to-long-term procurement strategies for benzene and other aromatic chemicals, covering contract and spot procurement, regional sourcing, inventory planning, and supply security.
- Monitor global supply and demand trends, regional price differentials, freight and logistics structures, and market fundamentals.
- Track crude oil and aromatics pricing, production capacity, inventory levels, geopolitical developments, and other market drivers.
- Develop market analysis and pricing models to support procurement, sourcing, and commercial decision-making.
- Identify market opportunities and risks and provide timely recommendations to management.
2.Supplier Strategy & Relationship Management
- Develop and execute strategic sourcing strategies for key overseas suppliers.
- Evaluate, qualify, and tier suppliers based on commercial competitiveness, reliability, quality, logistics capabilities, and overall supply performance.
- Develop and maintain a diversified global supplier network to strengthen supply security and reduce concentration risks.
- Build and maintain strong long-term relationships with key suppliers and business partners.
- Continuously review and optimize the supplier portfolio in line with business and market requirements.
3.Cost, Supply Chain & Risk Management
- Analyze total procurement costs from an end-to-end supply chain perspective, including product pricing, freight, logistics, financing, inventory, and related costs.
- Identify opportunities to improve procurement efficiency and optimize overall sourcing costs.
- Establish risk mitigation and contingency plans for price volatility, supply disruptions, quality issues, logistics delays, and geopolitical risks.
- Work closely with production, logistics, quality, finance, legal, and other relevant functions to ensure supply continuity and effective risk management.
4.Long-Term Contract & Spot Procurement
- Lead the negotiation, execution, and management of long-term supply agreements for benzene and other bulk chemicals.
- Manage commercial negotiations with suppliers, including pricing, volume, delivery terms, payment terms, and other contractual conditions.
- Monitor market movements and execute spot purchases in response to business requirements and market opportunities.
- Identify favorable market windows and optimize purchasing timing and inventory positions.
- Ensure timely delivery of materials in accordance with production requirements, quality specifications, and agreed contractual terms.
5.Supplier Performance & Exception Management
- Monitor supplier performance against agreed commercial, quality, delivery, and service requirements.
- Manage and resolve supply chain exceptions, including shipment delays, quality deviations, documentation issues, and other operational challenges.
- Work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to develop corrective and preventive actions.
- Continuously improve supplier performance and strengthen the overall sourcing network.
6.Procurement Operations & Trade Documentation
- Oversee purchase order execution and follow up on order status, shipment schedules, and delivery arrangements.
- Ensure proper review and compliance of international trade documentation, including Letters of Credit (L/C), Bills of Lading (B/L), inspection certificates, commercial invoices, and other relevant documents.
- Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure smooth and compliant international trade transactions.
- Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, contractual requirements, and applicable trade regulations.
Qualifications& Requirements
- Master’s degree or above in International Trade, Chemical Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, or a related discipline.
- Solid experience in global procurement, preferably with direct experience in bulk chemicals, petrochemicals, aromatics, benzene, or related commodity markets.
- Proven experience in both long-term contract and spot procurement, overseas supplier development, and cross-border commercial negotiations.
- Strong understanding of international commodity markets, supply-demand dynamics, pricing mechanisms, and global supply chains.
- Strong knowledge of international trade processes and documentation, including Letters of Credit (L/C), Bills of Lading (B/L), inspection certificates, and related compliance requirements.
- Strong commercial acumen with proven capabilities in supplier negotiation, procurement cost analysis, contract management, and supply chain risk management.
- Fluent in English with the ability to independently communicate and negotiate with overseas suppliers and international business partners.
- Strong analytical, communication, coordination, and stakeholder management skills.
- Able to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and make sound commercial decisions in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, commercially driven, and resilient under pressure.
- Willingness to travel internationally when required.