Category Specialist

Category Specialist (Open)

Location: Houston, TX (HO) - Procurement - Hub

World leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with approximately 66,000 employees and serves more than 3,6 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen have been at the core of the company's activities since its creation in 1902. Air Liquide's ambition is to be the leader in its industry, delivering long-term performance and acting responsibly.

How Will You Contribute and Grow?

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the unique perspectives of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders, and cultures across the world. We believe that a variety of backgrounds makes our team stronger and more innovative.

At Air Liquide we respect, honor and value diversity.

Air Liquide is hiring for a Category Specialist in Houston, TX.

We are looking for you!

Comprehensive Family Benefits: Air Liquide offers a full benefits package designed to support your whole life, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, and Disability Insurance. Future Security: 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match, Tuition Assistance, Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick time. Early Access: Your benefits start on the first day of employment.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and present business plans to partners and stakeholders for spend categories under areas of responsibility.
• Generate and implement Category strategies and Supplier Relationship Management programs consistent with the Air Liquide approved framework.
• Collaborate with Group Procurement on initiatives on an as-needed basis.
• Establish a supportive network with stakeholders in the business to remain connected on key issues.
• Coordinate and advance activities related to the annual planning process, working across various Procurement organizations and Operations.
• Support emergency preparedness and emergency response situations to promote the safety of Air Liquide employees, contractors, and customers as well as business continuity.
• Pioneer Strategic Sourcing events for categories that correspond to areas of responsibility. Follow outline "Blue Book" sourcing methodology.
• Work collaboratively within Supply Chain Operations Support, Purchasing Services, Strategic Initiatives, Partners and Stakeholders, Americas Clusters and Global Procurement Group.
• Meet with key customers routinely and proactively identify sourcing and contract value opportunities.
• Steward end-to-end sourcing and contracting process (including RFPs) for assigned commodities and services.
• Assist with contract start-up functions involving appropriate department managers.
• Participate in identifying emerging opportunities within the supply community.
• Evaluate existing contract relationships to identify savings realized, new savings opportunities, risk mitigation strategies, and other commercial terms enhancements.
• Leverage market intelligence to evaluate, negotiate, and steward annual price fluctuations. Leverage market intelligence to anticipate and act upon various supply chain challenges.
• Negotiate commercial terms for significant or aggregated project-based spend associated with managed categories.
• Ideally, you bring experience in negotiating legal terms and conditions.
• Steward contract life-cycle for all Frame Agreements within area of responsibility.
• Utilize all Supply Chain technologies for Contract Management, SRM, and Spend Analysis.
• Understand the Hermes code structure, and quantify managed vs. unmanaged spend.
• Monitor, assess and adjust sourcing strategies based on supplier and market intelligence.
• Implement multiple strategies leveraging Total Cost of Ownership, Lease vs. Buy and Economic Value models.
• Nurture relationships with key customers to understand their service and commodity needs and implement strategies to maximize savings in the Capital Maintenance Plan, Expense Plan, and for emerging projects.
• Responsible for ensuring alignment with internal processes, including but not limited to, contract filing processes, bidding processes, and value creation reporting processes.
• Work closely with the Supplier Relationship Management Specialist for key suppliers under areas of responsibility. Build consistent, repeatable series of key performance indicators which can be used to gauge supplier performance and create actionable improvement plans.
• Facilitate periodic business reviews with key suppliers and foster action items that result from the meetings.
• Provide various reports as requested by manager.
• Partner with Legal to ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures, both internal and external, to Air Liquide.

Are You a Match?

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, finance, accounting, or other business related fields.
• A minimum of 2-3 years experience in Supply Chain Management or related field. Preferred: 3+ years experience in Supply Chain Management or related field.
• Candidates must have valid employment authorization in the U.S. and must not require visa sponsorship now or in the future. This position is not open for non-immigrant visa sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in business, management, or related field.

Our Differences Make Our Performance

At Air Liquide, we are committed to build a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the diversity of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders and cultures across the world.

We welcome and consider applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their background. We strongly believe a diverse organization opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to innovate by living our fundamentals, acting for our success and creating an engaging environment in a changing world.