Position Summary

The Plant Procurement Manager is responsible for managing strategic and operational procurement activities at the U.S. glass manufacturing facility, ensuring uninterrupted material supply, cost competitiveness and efficient purchasing processes. The role combines hands-on sourcing, supplier negotiations and day-to-day purchasing activities with procurement improvement initiatives and the development of the local purchasing team. Close collaboration with plant management and the global procurement organization ensures alignment with group strategies while addressing local operational requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Hands-on Purchasing & Plant Support

• Personally manage or partner with SCM on sourcing and purchasing for selected direct and indirect categories, including raw materials, MRO, packaging, services and plant requirements.

• Prepare requests for quotation (RFQs), evaluate bids, negotiate commercial terms and place or oversee purchase orders as required.

• Ability and willingness to work cross functionally within supply chain and procurement as required to ensure needs of business are met.

• Work directly with supply chain director, production, maintenance and engineering to resolve urgent purchasing needs, supplier delays, shortages and quality issues.

• Follow up with suppliers on delivery commitments and corrective actions; maintain accurate purchasing and supplier data in the ERP system (e.g., Infor).

• Coordinate with plant stores, production planning, logistics and finance to support appropriate inventory levels and reliable material availability.

• Lead and field complaints and claims to vendors where applicable by partnering with operations and quality

• Establish vendor scorecards to grade vendors on quality, on time delivery and compliance to specifications issued

Strategic Sourcing & Cost Improvement

• Develop and implement practical sourcing plans aligned with global category strategies for raw materials (including sand, soda ash and cullet), refractories, molds, energy, packaging, MRO and services.

• Personally negotiate key supply agreements and long-term contracts; improve total cost of ownership through competitive bidding, specifications and supplier consolidation.

• Support natural gas and electricity procurement, contract structuring and price-risk management in collaboration with global procurement specialists.

• Lead or support CAPEX and project sourcing in close cooperation with engineering and operations and global procurement.

• Monitor U.S. supplier markets, tariffs and trade-policy developments and assess supply and cost implications.

Supplier Management & Supply Security

• Develop reliable local and international supplier relationships and alternative sources for production-critical materials.

• Ensure continuity of supply for continuous furnace operation; establish practical contingency plans and promptly escalate supply risks.

• Track supplier performance on quality, cost and on-time delivery; conduct business reviews, qualifications and audits where appropriate.

Leadership, Collaboration & Governance

• Remain actively involved in day-to-day purchasing while building, coaching and leading a small local procurement team inclusive of 1 buyer; partnering with supply chain director to ensure compliance of local and group procurement standards

• Partner with plant operations, engineering, quality, logistics, HSE and finance, and collaborate with European plants and global procurement.

• Apply group procurement policies, approval limits and compliance requirements; maintain effective purchase-to-pay processes.

• Monitor and report procurement KPIs and contribute to standardization, digitalization and sustainability initiatives.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Engineering or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

• Approximately 7-10+ years of progressive purchasing / procurement experience in a manufacturing or industrial plant environment.

• Demonstrated hands-on experience in RFQs, supplier negotiations, purchase order execution, supplier follow-up and resolution of urgent material shortages.

• Proven ability to manage direct and indirect purchasing, supplier performance, cost improvement and continuity of supply.

• Proven ability to work in team environment and manage subordinates effectively to accomplish organizational goals via delegation of duties and adherence to standards.

• Strong commercial and technical understanding, including contract terms, cost analysis and technical specifications.

• Practical ERP proficiency and strong Excel / data-analysis skills; fluent professional English.

• Willingness to work on-site and take personal ownership of operational purchasing challenges.

Preferred

• Experience in glass, metals, paper, chemicals, building materials or other energy-intensive / continuous-process manufacturing.

• Experience supervising a small purchasing team or readiness to take on people leadership.

• Exposure to energy purchasing, commodity sourcing and/or CAPEX project procurement.

• Experience in an international matrix organization; familiarity with Infor ERP and U.S. industrial contracting practices.

• MBA, Master’s degree or professional procurement certification.

Skills & Competencies

• Hands-on, pragmatic and solutions-oriented; comfortable moving between supplier negotiations and urgent plant-floor needs.

• Strong communication, stakeholder management and negotiation skills.

• Commercial judgment, ownership, accountability and ability to prioritize in time-critical situations.

• Ability to balance global procurement standards with local plant requirements.

• Solid understanding of GMPs and best in class standards for procurement

Languages

• Excellent negotiation, communication skills

• English: fluent (required)

Travel

• Approx. 15–20% travel, mainly to Europe and to suppliers in North America; occasional trips to Latin America and Asia

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