Senior Category Manager - Raw Chemicals

Job Overview

Veolia Group is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees. Specializing in water, energy, and waste management, the Group designs and implements innovative solutions for decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration, supporting communities and industries in their ecological transformation. Within this framework, Veolia’s Water Technology Business 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.

• Develop, lead, and implement end‑to‑end sourcing strategies for chemical raw material categories for both specialty and commodity chemicals.
• Deep industry knowledge in chemical markets, strong business acumen, and demonstrated cross‑functional leadership.
• Strategic thinker able to work in a collaborative, double‑matrix, and multicultural environment.

• Develop and lead end‑to‑end regional sourcing strategies for key commodity and chemical categories in conjunction with global strategy and market trends.
• Perform total cost of ownership analyses and market intelligence reviews to inform procurement decisions.
• Identify and qualify suppliers aligned with Veolia’s needs and environmental compliance standards.
• Own the category business goals for the region and report progress to the Global Category Manager and regional team.

• Manage strategic supplier relationships, including quarterly business reviews, supplier innovation partnerships, and risk management activities.
• 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, quality management systems, and safety protocols.

• 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 the water treatment and chemical supply chains, including regulatory impacts such as REACH, TSCA, and EPA rules.

• 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.

• Expertise in chemical sourcing and subject‑matter knowledge.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems (SAP preferred) and Google and Excel‑based modeling.

• Strategic thinking and long‑term vision.
• Inspirational leadership and motivation.
• Curiosity and high‑impact questioning.
• Courageous champions of ideas.
• Humble and respectful towards peers and stakeholders.
• Holistic customer and company focus.
• Accountable with ownership and commitment.
• Ambitious with visionary ideas.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering or a directly related field.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, or an equivalent function with knowledge of business strategy, procurement strategy & processes, category management, and procurement KPIs.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience drafting, negotiating, and implementing complex contracts for raw materials within the chemical industry.
• Demonstrated chemical raw material sourcing, water treatment, and relevant chemical markets experience.

• MBA, Master’s Degree, or certification such as CPSM, CPM, CPSCM.
• Experience negotiating and managing suppliers within the chemical industry, preferably in water treatment.
• Experience working in a matrixed organization.

• Annual travel required: 15%.