Strategic Sourcing Manager, North America

ABOUT UPL: UPL (NSE: UPL & BSE: 512070, LSE: UPLL) is focused on emerging as a premier global provider of total crop solutions designed to secure the world’s long-term food supply. Winning farmers hearts across the globe, while leading the way with innovative products and services that make agriculture sustainable, UPL is the fastest growing company in the industry. Our successes in the field add up to powerful financials. UPL delivers results from protecting crops that translate into attractive investor value. Based on the recognition that humankind is one community, UPL’s overarching commitment is to improve areas of its presence, workplace and customer engagement. please visit upl-ltd.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Our purpose is ‘OpenAg’. An agriculture network that feeds sustainable growth for all. No limits, no borders.

(EOE) EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT:

UPL provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants irrespective of their race, colour, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, in every location in which the company has facilities, UPL complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. UPL also reinforces EEO through its Corporate Business Principles and Code of Business Conduct.

JOB SUMMARY: We are seeking an experienced and Strategic Sourcing Manager for North America to lead our NA strategic sourcing activities. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in supply chain management, excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to develop and maintain supplier relationships across multiple regions.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strategic Sourcing & Cost Savings: Develop and execute comprehensive sourcing strategies for chemical raw materials, packaging, and indirect categories to achieve aggressive Year-over-Year (YoY) cost savings targets.
• Vendor Negotiation & Management: Aggressively negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts with domestic and international suppliers. Build and maintain strategic relationships while holding suppliers accountable to strict KPIs.
• Data-Driven Analysis: Utilize advanced data analytics to evaluate spend data, total cost of ownership (TCO), market trends, and commodity pricing. Translate complex data into actionable sourcing strategies.
• Market Intelligence: Continuously monitor the chemical market, geopolitical factors, and supply chain disruptions to mitigate risks and identify new sourcing opportunities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance teams to align sourcing strategies with business objectives and product specifications.
• Process Improvement: Identify bottlenecks in the sourcing process and implement streamlined, efficient, and scalable sourcing methodologies.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field. (Master’s degree or MBA is a plus).
• 8 to 10 years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, or category management, specifically within the chemical, agrochemical, petrochemical, or related manufacturing sectors.
• Proven experience in delivering significant, quantifiable cost savings and value generation in previous role
• Advanced proficiency in Data Analysis (Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools).
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and e-sourcing platforms.
• Excellent negotiation and communication abilities

SOFT SKILLS RECQUIRED

• Aggressive & Proactive Mindset: A true "go-getter" who takes ownership, anticipates challenges, and relentlessly pursues cost-optimization opportunities.
• Exceptional Negotiation Skills: Ability to close complex deals favorably and confidently manage difficult supplier conversations.
• Analytical Thinker: Highly proficient at breaking down complex spend data to uncover hidden savings opportunities.
• Agility & Resilience: Thrives in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and adapts quickly to changing market conditions.

UPL COMPETENCIES

• Adaptability & Resilience: Recognizes and is open to changing circumstances and alters behavior and scales up as necessary; increases personal awareness and appreciation of individual and cultural differences to create an open, inclusive, and accepting workplace.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Has a creative mindset and ability to think holistically, takes calculated risks and maximizes opportunities.
• Results Orientations: Takes action, pursues goals with persistence and achieves results; communicates goals and vision to the team to drive enthusiasm and ambition.
• Execution Excellence: Enhances the speed of execution and builds efficiency in processes, systems and people; has sharp focus on quality-orientation.
• Strategic Orientation: Demonstrates knowledge of the social, economic, and environmental factors and how they impact the business. Identifies key issues that could impact the business and develops strategy through an analytical lens / design thinking.
• Building Teams and Talent: Empowers colleagues through knowledge sharing and delegation, quickly establishing rapport; provides recognition for achievements and accomplishments.
• Customer Centricity: Understands the customer needs and pain points, fulfills the needs and expectations by focusing on creating value for customers.