Global Energy & Catalyst Manager

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OXEA is a global manufacturer of Oxo Intermediates and Oxo Performance Chemicals with around 1,200 employees worldwide. Our products are used in various applications such as paints and coatings, lubricants and functional fluids, and personal care products.

Location: Houston, US, 77056

Mobile work possible?: yes, hybrid

Entry Date: 08/03/2026

Employment type: Full time

OXEA Corporation Company Overview | World leader in Oxo Chemicals

Oxo products are the core competency of OXEA Corporation. We are producing more than 70 oxo intermediates and oxo derivatives for customers in a wide range of industries with various end market applications. Our chemicals are important ingredients in products that are used in daily life around the world. "We" refers to more than 1,200 OXEA employees worldwide. At our plants in Germany, the USA, and China, we produce intermediates and derivatives.

Position Summary

The Energy Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing global procurement and risk management strategies for Natural Gas, Electricity, Industrial Gases, Catalysts, and Strategic Metals across the company's manufacturing operations in the United States and Germany.

This role serves as the global category leader for critical manufacturing inputs and utilities, ensuring competitive cost structures, security of supply, supplier performance, and effective risk mitigation. The position will collaborate closely with Operations, Manufacturing, Treasury, Finance, Technical Services, Engineering, and Executive Leadership to maximize value creation and support the company's long-term growth objectives.

The successful candidate will possess deep expertise in energy markets, industrial gas supply structures, catalyst sourcing, metals markets, and commodity hedging strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Global Category Leadership

• Develop and implement global sourcing strategies for:
• Natural Gas
• Catalysts
• Establish category strategies that support business growth, manufacturing competitiveness, supply chain resilience, and sustainability objectives.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier selection processes, and commercial negotiations globally.
• Deliver annual savings, value creation, and risk management targets.
• Lead the procurement of natural gas and electricity across all manufacturing sites in North America and Europe.
• Monitor energy market fundamentals, regulatory developments, carbon markets, and geopolitical trends affecting energy costs and supply.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies leveraging fixed-price, indexed, structured, and hybrid purchasing approaches.
• Build market intelligence and forecasting models to support budgeting and long-term planning.
• Provide regular market updates and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Commodity Risk Management & Hedging

• Partner with Treasury and Finance to establish and execute commodity risk management programs.
• Natural Gas
• Strategic Metals
• Evaluate and recommend the use of financial and physical hedging instruments to mitigate commodity price volatility.
• Monitor market exposures and develop mitigation plans to protect business profitability.
• Support annual budgeting and forecasting activities through market analysis and risk assessments.
• Develop sourcing strategies and negotiate agreements for:
• Hydrogen
• Oxygen
• Nitrogen
• Carbon Dioxide
• Steam and utility supply agreements
• Other industrial gas requirements
• Manage strategic relationships with industrial gas suppliers including pipeline, onsite generation, and merchant supply agreements.
• Support plant expansions and commercial negotiations related to utility and industrial gas infrastructure.
• Ensure reliability, cost competitiveness, and long-term supply security.
• Lead global sourcing and supplier management activities for catalyst systems utilized across manufacturing operations.
• Manage commercial strategies for catalyst acquisition, regeneration, recovery, leasing, and disposal.
• Develop sourcing and inventory strategies for precious and strategic metals used in catalyst manufacturing and regeneration.
• Collaborate with Operations and Technical Services to optimize catalyst supplier performance and value creation.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement through strategic supplier partnerships.
• Establish executive-level relationships with critical global suppliers.
• Conduct supplier business reviews and performance evaluations.
• Drive supplier accountability regarding:
• Sustainability
• Supply reliability
• Develop contingency plans and supplier risk mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and contractual obligations.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with Manufacturing, Operations, Technical Services, Engineering, Finance, Sustainability, and Executive Leadership.
• Serve as the company's subject matter expert on energy markets, industrial gases, catalysts, and metals.
• Support capital projects, capacity expansions, and strategic business initiatives.
• Contribute to M&A due diligence and integration activities related to energy and catalyst supply agreements.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Business, Economics, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Chemistry, or related discipline.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Background and Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, commodity management, or category leadership.
• Significant experience managing one or more of the following spend categories:
  • Natural Gas
  • Electricity
  • Industrial Gases
  • Catalysts
  • Precious Metals
  • Strategic Metals

Core Competencies

• Deep understanding of:
• Energy markets and procurement models
• Natural gas and electricity purchasing structures
• Industrial gas supply agreements
• Catalyst technologies and supply chains
• Precious and strategic metals markets
• Commodity hedging and risk management
• Strong analytical and financial modeling capabilities.
• Contract negotiation and supplier management expertise.
• Knowledge of European and North American energy markets and regulations.
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Results-oriented with a bias for action.
• Strong project management and execution capabilities.
• High degree of integrity, accountability, and ownership.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Annual savings and value creation delivery.
• Energy procurement performance versus market benchmarks.
• Hedging effectiveness and commodity risk mitigation.
• Industrial gas cost competitiveness and supply reliability.
• Catalyst and metals cost optimization.
• Supplier performance and strategic relationship development.
• Contract compliance and coverage.
• Supply continuity and risk management.
• Sustainability and ESG objectives.

Strategic Impact

The Energy Category Manager plays a critical role in managing some of the company's most strategically important and volatile spend categories. By developing world-class sourcing strategies, optimizing supplier relationships, and implementing effective commodity risk management programs, this position directly contributes to operational reliability, EBITDA improvement, supply security, and long-term competitive advantage across the company's global manufacturing network.

All Employees are invited to participate regardless of race, sex, age, color, national origin, marital status, religion, disability or veteran status, and any other criterion prescribed by law.

OXEA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not tolerate discrimination based on race, sex, age, color, national origin, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

• Excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plans
• Health Equity Health Fund forhealth and dependent care
• Disability Benefits
• Basic Group Term Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Work/Life Balance
• Paid Time Off for a balanced life
• Competitive salary, bonus, 401(k) plan with match and profit-sharing match