SENIOR COMMODITY BUYER – PLASTICS & RESINS
Knoxville, Tennessee
SALARY US$85,000 – US$100,000 ANNUALLY, COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE
CANDIDATES SHOULD BRING DIRECT EXPERIENCE PURCHASING PLASTICS, RESINS, TiO₂, CARBON BLACK, CHEMICAL ADDITIVES, OR RELATED RAW MATERIALS.
THE CAREER OPPORTUNITY
PeopleFind Inc. is assisting a well-established North American manufacturer in the recruitment of a commercially astute Senior Commodity Buyer – Plastics & Resins for its Knoxville, Tennessee facility.
This is a high-impact procurement position with responsibility extending beyond transactional purchasing. The successful candidate will help shape commodity strategies, manage critical supplier relationships, protect continuity of supply, and identify opportunities to improve material costs and overall supplier performance.
The purchasing mandate supports company facilities in the United States and Canada and encompasses production raw materials, indirect and non-production materials, MRO supplies, services, and capital equipment.
The ideal candidate understands the commercial dynamics of plastics and resin markets and can translate market intelligence, supplier capabilities, cost drivers, and operational requirements into sound sourcing decisions.
Working across Procurement, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Quality, Sales, Technical Services, Engineering, and Operations, you will help the organization manage supply risk, improve purchasing leverage, and build a stronger and more responsive supply base.
WORK LOCATION AND TRAVEL
The position is based at the company’s facility in Knoxville, Tennessee .
Travel to supplier and company locations in the United States and Canada will be required as needed.
YOUR PROCUREMENT MANDATE
You will manage purchasing requirements supporting manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada.
Your commodity responsibilities will include plastics, resins, TiO₂, carbon black, chemical additives, polymers, compounds, and other production-related raw materials.
You will also support the acquisition of indirect and non-production materials, MRO supplies, professional services, and capital equipment.
The role requires the development and execution of commodity strategies designed to improve cost competitiveness, strengthen purchasing leverage, protect continuity of supply, and improve supplier performance.
STRATEGIC SOURCING AND NEGOTIATIONS
Identify and evaluate potential suppliers based on cost, quality, service, capacity, technical capabilities, reliability, regulatory compliance, and supply risk.
Manage requests for information, quotations, and proposals as part of competitive supplier-selection processes.
Compare sourcing alternatives using total cost of ownership analysis rather than purchase price alone.
Lead negotiations concerning pricing, payment terms, lead times, service levels, volume commitments, warranties, and other commercial conditions.
Negotiate supply agreements and commercial arrangements that support the company’s operational and financial interests.
Identify alternate suppliers, materials, and sourcing options to reduce dependency and strengthen business continuity.
Support capital-equipment purchases by reviewing technical requirements, evaluating suppliers, comparing commercial proposals, and negotiating favorable terms.
COMMODITY AND MARKET INTELLIGENCE
Monitor plastics, resins, chemicals, and related raw-material markets to identify significant pricing movements, cost drivers, availability issues, capacity limitations, technological developments, and geopolitical risks.
Assess developments within the supply base and determine their potential impact on pricing, lead times, material availability, and continuity of supply.
Use market intelligence, supplier information, internal forecasts, and operational requirements to guide sourcing recommendations and procurement decisions.
Contribute to annual material budgets, purchasing forecasts, cost projections, and procurement performance objectives.
Prepare cost analyses, supplier comparisons, forecasts, reports, and management presentations.
SUPPLIER PERFORMANCE AND RELATIONSHIPS
Develop productive, long-term relationships with strategic suppliers.
Participate in supplier visits, audits, business reviews, and formal performance evaluations.
Measure supplier performance in areas including quality, delivery, pricing, responsiveness, service, and corrective action.
Lead cost-reduction initiatives, supplier negotiations, value-analysis activities, and cost-improvement workshops.
Address supplier and material issues in partnership with Quality, Regulatory, Technical Services, Engineering, Supply Chain, Sales, and Operations.
Lead supplier corrective-action processes and ensure that identified problems are addressed through effective and permanent solutions.
OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
Anticipate purchasing requirements and work cross-functionally to address shortages, supply disruptions, material concerns, and other procurement risks.
Maintain complete and accurate purchasing records, including material specifications, contracts, quotation histories, pricing information, vendor data, and supplier-performance records.
Ensure that purchasing activities comply with company policies, contractual obligations, applicable regulations, and ethical procurement standards.
Complete additional procurement and supply chain responsibilities as required.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
A minimum of five years of progressive experience in procurement, purchasing, strategic sourcing, commodity management, or supply management is required.
Candidates should bring procurement experience from plastics manufacturing, chemicals, industrial manufacturing, or a closely related sector.
Direct experience purchasing plastics, resins, TiO₂, carbon black, chemical additives, polymers, compounds, or related raw materials is strongly preferred.
Experience sourcing indirect materials, MRO supplies, professional services, or capital equipment is desirable.
Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities or business operations in the United States and Canada would be valuable.
SOURCING AND SUPPLIER-MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement commodity or category strategies.
Experience identifying, assessing, qualifying, selecting, and managing suppliers.
A successful record of leading competitive quotation processes and commercial negotiations.
Ability to assess suppliers using total cost of ownership, quality, capacity, service, technical, and risk considerations.
Experience conducting supplier business reviews, managing corrective actions, monitoring supplier performance, and leading cost-reduction initiatives.
Understanding of the global factors affecting material prices, availability, logistics, lead times, and continuity of supply.
Working knowledge of contract law and the commercial principles applicable to purchasing and supplier agreements.
Knowledge of relevant supply markets, industry trends, suppliers, and professional associations.
TECHNICAL AND ANALYTICAL CAPABILITIES
Strong knowledge of plastics, resins, chemicals, industrial raw materials, or related manufacturing supply markets.
Ability to recognize cost drivers, market trends, supply risks, and commercial improvement opportunities.
Strong analytical, numerical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
Ability to interpret blueprints, engineering documents, technical specifications, and material requirements.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Experience using Power BI for analysis and reporting is strongly preferred.
Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is strongly preferred.
Ability to develop clear supplier analyses, cost comparisons, forecasts, reports, and management presentations.
PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Strong negotiating skills and sound commercial judgment.
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
Highly organized, accurate, and attentive to detail.
Able to manage multiple projects and competing priorities independently.
Effective when collaborating across departments, disciplines, and operating locations.
Proactive in identifying potential supply problems and cost-saving opportunities.
Confident working with suppliers, technical specialists, operational leaders, and senior management.
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Willing and able to travel as required.
EDUCATION
A bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Logistics, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related discipline is preferred.
A professional purchasing or supply chain designation would be an asset.
Equivalent combinations of education and directly relevant procurement experience will also be considered.
IDEAL BACKGROUND
Candidates must have a background in plastics & resins and currently be working as:
Senior Commodity Buyer
Commodity Buyer
Senior Buyer
Strategic Buyer
Raw Materials Buyer
Plastics Buyer
Resin Buyer
Chemical Buyer
Senior Procurement Specialist
Strategic Sourcing Specialist
Category Manager
Commodity Manager
Purchasing Manager
Supply Chain Specialist
WHY CONSIDER THIS OPPORTUNITY?
This position provides the opportunity to assume a meaningful procurement mandate encompassing suppliers, commodities, material costs, and continuity of supply across operations in the United States and Canada.
You will be able to influence commodity strategies, improve purchasing leverage, strengthen important supplier relationships, and deliver measurable value to a successful manufacturing organization.
The position also offers substantial cross-functional exposure and the opportunity to work with Procurement, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Quality, Sales, Technical Services, Engineering, and Operations.
For an accomplished procurement professional with plastics and resins experience, this is an opportunity to make a visible contribution to cost performance, supplier reliability, operational efficiency, and long-term supply chain strength.
TO APPLY
Please apply through Indeed.
OR
Send your resume in strict confidence to:
Alonso Perez
Recruiting Partner
PeopleFind Inc.
Tel: 1-866-477-0855 ext. 30
Email: [email protected]
CONFIDENTIALITY
All applications will be handled in the strictest confidence. No resume will be submitted to our client without the applicant’s prior knowledge and consent.
WHY PEOPLEFIND?
PeopleFind Inc. is one of Canada’s established recruiting firms specializing in the recruitment of Manufacturing, Engineering, Skilled Trades, Operations, Accounting, Finance, Construction, Retail, and Executive professionals.
Through our affiliated recruiting partners in NPAworldwide, we collaborate with more than 500 independent recruiting firms across North America and internationally, providing employers and candidates with exceptional reach, speed, and access to outstanding career opportunities.
Learn more at:
www.peoplefindinc.com
Call Charles Grossner, President, PeopleFind Inc.: 416-452-9330
Email: [email protected]
INDHP
