Strategic Procurement Manager - Indirect Materials

Overview

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Procurement Manager? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!

Procurement Manager

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Meet the Recruiter:
Eric Laffey

Summary:

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.

Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

Job Summary:

The Procurement Manager leads category management and strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize cost, quality, delivery, and innovation across the organization for indirect materials and services, including construction-related services. This scope includes materials that do not go into battery cells and business-critical services not directly tied to battery cell production, such as IT, facility maintenance, and production equipment maintenance. The role is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies, negotiating complex agreements, and managing supplier performance to deliver long-term value and operational excellence.

Partnering cross-functionally, the Procurement Manager aligns procurement activities with business objectives by leveraging data analytics and market intelligence to support informed decision-making while driving continuous improvement, risk mitigation, and supplier innovation. The role also plays a key part in advancing sustainability, diversity, and compliance initiatives to strengthen overall supply chain and procurement performance.

Essential Duties:

Functional Leadership & Operations:

• Lead category management and strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize cost, quality, and supply continuity
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies, including RFx processes, supplier selection, and contract negotiations
• Manage supplier performance through governance processes, scorecards, and continuous improvement actions
• Oversee procurement analytics, including spend analysis, cost modeling, and financial evaluations
• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, procedures, and best practices

Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:

• Align procurement strategies with business objectives to deliver total value beyond cost savings
• Identify and implement process improvements, demand management strategies, and cost optimization initiatives
• Leverage market intelligence, supplier innovation, and industry trends to inform sourcing decisions
• Develop data-driven business cases to support strategic initiatives

Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:

• Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning
• Promote knowledge sharing of category strategies, market insights, and best practices
• Support development of procurement tools, capabilities, and methodologies

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Partner with stakeholders across engineering, operations, and finance to align sourcing strategies
• Influence decision-making through data-driven insights and strategic recommendations
• Build strong internal and external relationships to drive supplier performance and innovation

Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contracts, and regulatory requirements
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including supplier…