Senior Commodity Buyer - Plastics & Resins (100K

Senior Commodity Buyer, Plastics & Chemicals: 100K

, SC

Full-Time Regular

EB-

SALARY US $85,000 – US $100,000 ANNUALLY, COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE

THE CAREER OPPORTUNITY

People Find Inc. is assisting a well-established North American manufacturer in the recruitment of a commercially astute Senior Commodity Buyer, Plastics & Resins for its Knoxville, Tennessee facility.

This is a high-impact procurement position with responsibility extending beyond transactional purchasing. The successful candidate will help shape commodity strategies, manage critical supplier relationships, protect continuity of supply, and identify opportunities to improve material costs and overall supplier performance.

The purchasing mandate supports company facilities in the United States and Canada and encompasses production raw materials, indirect and non-production materials, MRO supplies, services, and capital equipment.

The ideal candidate understands the commercial dynamics of plastics and resin markets and can translate market intelligence, supplier capabilities, cost drivers, and operational requirements into sound sourcing decisions.

Working across Procurement, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Quality, Sales, Technical Services, Engineering, and Operations, you will help the organization manage supply risk, improve purchasing leverage, and build a stronger and more responsive supply base.

WORK LOCATION AND TRAVEL

The position is based at the company’s facility in Knoxville, Tennessee
.

Travel to supplier and company locations in the United States and Canada will be required as needed.

YOUR PROCUREMENT MANDATE

You will manage purchasing requirements supporting manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada.

Your commodity responsibilities will include plastics, resins, TiO₂, carbon black, chemical additives, polymers, compounds, and other production-related raw materials.

You will also support the acquisition of indirect and non-production materials, MRO supplies, professional services, and capital equipment.

The role requires the development and execution of commodity strategies designed to improve cost competitiveness, strengthen purchasing leverage, protect continuity of supply, and improve supplier performance.

STRATEGIC SOURCING AND NEGOTIATIONS

Identify and evaluate potential suppliers based on cost, quality, service, capacity, technical capabilities, reliability, regulatory compliance, and supply risk.

Manage requests for information, quotations, and proposals as part of competitive supplier-selection processes.

Compare sourcing alternatives using total cost of ownership analysis rather than purchase price alone.

Lead negotiations concerning pricing, payment terms, lead times, service levels, volume commitments, warranties, and other commercial conditions.

Negotiate supply agreements and commercial arrangements that support the company’s operational and financial interests.

Identify alternate suppliers, materials, and sourcing options to reduce dependency and strengthen business continuity.

Support capital-equipment purchases by reviewing technical requirements, evaluating suppliers, comparing commercial proposals, and negotiating favorable terms.

COMMODITY AND MARKET INTELLIGENCE

Monitor plastics, resins, chemicals, and related raw-material markets to identify significant pricing movements, cost drivers, availability issues, capacity limitations, technological developments, and geopolitical risks.

Assess developments within the supply base and determine their potential impact on pricing, lead times, material availability, and continuity of supply.

Use market intelligence, supplier information, internal forecasts, and operational requirements to guide sourcing recommendations and procurement decisions.

Contribute to annual material budgets, purchasing forecasts, cost projections, and procurement performance objectives.

Prepare cost analyses, supplier comparisons, forecasts, reports, and management presentations.

SUPPLIER PERFORMANCE AND RELATIONSHIPS

Develop productive, long-term relationships with strategic suppliers.

Participate in supplier visits, audits, business reviews, and formal performance evaluations.

Measure supplier…