Indirect Purchasing Lead

Indirect Procurement Lead, North America

Kalmar Solutions –

Location:

Ottawa, KS (Onsite)

Lead the development and execution of sourcing activities across all indirect categories within the regional organization, including Front Line Units (FLUs) and manufacturing plant. Collaborate with global category and country procurement organizations, lead savings projects, ensure supplier preferencing, and drive sustainable compliance improvements aligned with local and regional needs.

• Eligible for Annual Bonus
• Eligible for Annual Salary Review & Merit Increase
• Will provide relocation assistance

• Cost‑Saving Initiatives: Lead cost‑saving initiatives by identifying opportunities for RFQs, process optimization, supplier renegotiation, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) initiatives.
• Contract Negotiation & Compliance: Lead contract negotiations for procurement projects and contracts, ensuring compliance with legal and commercial terms, as well as Kalmar internal policies and local legal requirements.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with preferred suppliers, ensuring high levels of collaboration, mutual benefit, supplier consolidation, tail spend reduction, and key supplier development.
• Process Improvement & Innovation: Identify inefficiencies in local procurement processes and drive improvements in the source‑to‑pay process, including requisitioning, purchasing, invoicing, and payment to enhance efficiency and PO compliance.
• Business Partnering: Drive communication between business functions and central category management teams, working closely and proactively with finance, operations, and other relevant departments to align procurement activities with business needs.
• Performance Reporting: Provide regular reporting to country directors and controllers on procurement performance, developing dashboards to track sourcing performance against targets for cost, quality, and delivery.

• Rewards that truly count: Meaningful development opportunities through varied assignments, fair and gender‑neutral pay, and flexible working conditions.
• Competitive Benefits: Medical, Dental and Vision coverage effective day one; flexible spending account; company‑paid short‑and long‑term disability coverage; company‑paid life insurance policy (2X’s annual salary up to $200k); options for additional life insurance coverage at affordable rates; safe harbour 401K plan with 6% company match (no vesting).
• Safety that moves us forward: Stability of a long‑standing company with strong job security and a reliable foundation for your career.
• Purpose that drives change: Contribute to solutions that transform global trade, creating environmental and operational innovations.
• People who move together: Collaborate with a global team, build strong relationships, solve challenges, celebrate wins, and connect with colleagues and clients in an open, sustainable culture.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Finance, or Engineering.
• Experience: At least 5 years in Procurement and Strategic Sourcing with proven track records in complex sourcing projects, process improvement activities, and transformational change in large, matrix‑structured multinational organizations.
• Technical Expertise: Understanding of TCO with practical deployment in procurement areas, basic financial acumen, legal awareness, and contract negotiation experience.
• Commercial Acumen: Working knowledge of financial aspects of procurement, at least basic knowledge of contractual mechanisms, able to negotiate contracts independently beyond pricing terms.
• Influencing & Negotiation: Strong negotiation, influencing, and relationship‑building skills, collaborating with key stakeholders at the executive level.
• Analytical Problem‑Solving: Ability to gather relevant information systematically, grasp complexities, cope with ambiguity, and manage multiple projects while focusing on key deliverables.
• Safety Commitment: Strong awareness and adherence to safety protocols to ensure a secure work environment for yourself and your colleagues.