Procurement Contract Manager

Job Description

Job Description

The Procurement Contract Manager leads all end-to-end procurement and contracting activities in the United States for both operations and projects. This role builds and maintains a robust supplier base, runs competitive sourcing events, recommends awards, negotiates contracts, and partners closely with the COO and Operations Director to select the best alternatives for goods, equipment, and services. The position collaborates with Finance, HR, IT, Projects, Operations, Legal, and other stakeholders to ensure timely, compliant, and cost-effective supply. This position reports to CFO of U.S. with matrix reporting to Supply Chain Lead and is based in the Lake Charles, LA, area.

Responsibilities

As a key member of the team, you are accountable for the following:

·         Oversee correct implementation of all contracts and procurement activities for Aclara.

·         Develop and maintain a qualified supplier database for US procurement, including prequalification, onboarding, and vendor master data accuracy.

·         Plan and execute competitive events (RFI/RFQ/RFP), including bid packages, bidder lists, Q&A, and evaluations.

·         Perform total cost of ownership (TCO) and should-cost analysis; prepare sourcing business cases and award recommendation memos.

·         Negotiate commercial terms, pricing indexes, service levels (SLAs), and key risk clauses; finalize MSAs, frame agreements, and project contracts in coordination with Legal.

·         Advise the COO and Operations Director on sourcing strategies, supplier options, and award decisions, balancing cost, quality, delivery, risk, and schedule.

·         Lead contracting for goods, equipment, and services in the US; ensure clarity in scope, deliverables, acceptance criteria, and performance metrics.

·         Coordinate closely with Projects, Operations, Engineering, Finance, HR, Legal and IT to align requirements, budgets, schedules, and compliance needs.

·         Manage supplier performance through KPIs.

·         Optimize procure-to-pay (P2P) processes in SAP (requisitions, POs, receipts, invoicing), resolve escalations, and promote policy adherence.

·         Monitor market trends, cost drivers, and risks in US categories; develop mitigation plans and dual/multiple sourcing where appropriate.

·         Support logistics, delivery terms (Incoterms), warranty administration, and claims management in coordination with relevant teams.

·         Drive compliance with internal controls and applicable regulations (e.g., ethics/anti-bribery, HSE requirements for contractors, and company policies).

·         Contribute to sustainability and supplier diversity objectives as applicable, including identification and development of diverse suppliers.

·         Support CAPEX sourcing events and contracting (equipment packages, project services) as needed.

·         Maintain organized documentation and audit-ready records for sourcing events, contracts, and supplier performance.

·         Champion continuous improvement, standardization, and knowledge sharing across procurement processes and tools.

Requirements

Must-haves:

·         Minimum 8 years of experience in procurement/supply chain within medium to large companies, with end-to-end ownership in the US.

·         Strong record of running competitive events (RFI/RFQ/RFP), analyzing bids, and negotiating commercial agreements.

·         Hands-on experience with SAP for P2P and sourcing; ability to extract, analyze, and reconcile data.

·         Solid knowledge of US commercial contracting practices and supplier management.

·         Advanced Excel skills; proficiency with analytics/reporting tools (e.g., Power BI).

·         Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).

·         Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills, including executive-ready recommendations.

·         Knowledge of Incoterms, logistics coordination, and basic import/export compliance.

·         Fluency in English; Spanish is a plus.

Nice-to-haves:

·         Oil & Gas industry experience and familiarity with field services and project procurement.

·         Experience with CAPEX procurement (equipment packages, long-lead items, installation/commissioning).

·         Knowledge of Incoterms, logistics coordination, and basic import/export compliance.

Work Conditions:

·         Work to be performed remote (initially).

·         Once facilities are available, work will be conducted in the Lake Charles, LA area.

·         Ability to travel in-country (occasionally)

Aclara Technologies, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply, regardless of race, religion, gender, or background.

Aclara Technologies Inc. is the United States subsidiary of Aclara Resources Inc, a rare earth elements company focused on the sustainable development of ionic clay deposits in Latin America. Its flagship projects, the Penco Module in Chile and the Carina Project in Brazil, target the production of heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium. These elements are used to manufacture permanent magnets which are critical to EVs and defense applications. Aclara emphasizes environmentally responsible extraction with minimal surface disturbance and no tailings generation. The company is also developing a downstream separation facility in Louisiana which will process and separate the mixed rare earth carbonates into separated oxides. The plan is to put all of these assets into production by 2028 and bring supply security and independence for this critical mineral supply chain to the United States.

Company Description

Aclara Technologies Inc. is the United States subsidiary of Aclara Resources Inc, a rare earth elements company focused on the sustainable development of ionic clay deposits in Latin America. Its flagship projects, the Penco Module in Chile and the Carina Project in Brazil, target the production of heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium. These elements are used to manufacture permanent magnets which are critical to EVs and defense applications. Aclara emphasizes environmentally responsible extraction with minimal surface disturbance and no tailings generation. The company is also developing a downstream separation facility in Louisiana which will process and separate the mixed rare earth carbonates into separated oxides. The plan is to put all of these assets into production by 2028 and bring supply security and independence for this critical mineral supply chain to the United States.