Category Sourcing Specialist

Hersham, England, United Kingdom

12/16/2024

At Air Products, our purpose is to bring people together to reimagine what’s possible, collaborate and innovate solutions to the world’s most significant energy and environmental sustainability challenges. Grow with us as we embark on building tomorrow together by being the safest, most diverse and most profitable industrial gas company in the world. 

Reimagine What’s Possible 

Do you have a passion for Category Sourcing and driving efficiency and operational excellence?

We are seeking a Category Sourcing Specialist for strategic category sourcing of pipes, manual valves, fittings, and other bulk items like transitions joints, fasteners, traps, and strainers. You will lead Global Strategic Sourcing category development, ensure continuous supply and quality of products, drive cost savings and cost avoidance, and manage the supplier qualification and relationship as well as collaborate with Product Sourcing Managers to improve product line competitiveness, promote the use of best-cost country sourcing, and support strategic innovative technologies

If this sounds like you, come grow with us as we continue to build a sustainable tomorrow together!

What's In It For You

At Air Products we foster a culture of inclusion where every voice is heard, and everyone feels they belong and matter. Additionally, we offer competitive pay and great benefits for our employees. Check out some of our benefits below!

• Affordable Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (day 1 of employment)
• 401k with 100% vested company core and match
• Paid Vacation, holidays + sick time
• Paid Parental leave (Up to 4 weeks for both parents)
• Backup Child and Adult Care benefit
• Adoption assistance
• Flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent daycare)
• Life Insurance (AD&D- Paid for by Air Products), Supplemental AD&D
• Legal Plan & Identity theft coverage
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• Many more supplemental benefits available
  
  

Required Skills / Abilities

• Embody the 4S culture of Safety, Speed, Simplicity and Self-Confidence.
• Exemplify the Air Products values of safety and integrity in all internal and external interactions.
• Proactively build innovative category sourcing strategies to maximize the company value proposition.
• Apply technical knowledge and effective use of tools including SAP and others.
• Collaborate globally across functions and organizations while promoting diversity and inclusion.
• Manage supplier relationships, drive cross-functional initiatives, and ensure continuous improvement.
• Focused with a strong commercial acumen.
  
  

Key Job Responsibilities

• Build and implement Global Category Strategies aligned with the Product Lines’ business and technical needs and priorities.
• Manage, measure, and improve cost competitiveness through capital cost and execution hours reductions while ensuring continuous supply of high-quality products to achieve the lowest Total Cost of Ownership and increase company working capital.
• Develop Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) programs for critical suppliers including Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR) while maintaining strong relationships with other suppliers to make Air Products a Customer-of-Choice.
• Work with Engineering and technical teams to establish a cohesive approach to the technical and commercial development of key suppliers.
• Identify, screen, and qualify new global suppliers to fill supply chain gaps, improve equipment performance, and increase competition.
• Communicate with different stakeholders including Product Lines, Engineering, Technology and Regional Procurement Centers to solve systemic operational issues and engage suppliers at a strategic level.
• Proactively engage the marketplace to identify innovative supplier offerings, develop company leverage, understand key category cost-drivers, and mitigate risk.
• Negotiate strategical agreements and standardized contracts with suppliers to lower costs, ensure supply, and eliminate sole or single source situations.
• Support company Product Lines with effective strategies including:
  
  

Optimizing supply chains from supplier through customer across multiple functions and geographies.

Providing costing target options during product line refreshes.

Contribute on the development of execution strategies on emerging mega EPC projects.

• Cross-functional responsibilities include:
  
  

Represent the Global Strategic Sourcing group for all product-related cross-functional initiatives.

Manage the category Supplier Qualification plan.

Utilize and reinforce the Global Strategic Sourcing Business Management System (BMS) processes and documents.

Minimum Hiring Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering with MBA preferred or, a bachelor’s degree in supply chain or business will be considered with relative work experience.
• 5+ years of work experience in an industrial environment including sourcing or engineering experience related to the assigned categories and equipment.
• Strong understanding of Air Products offering and markets.
• This is an office-based position with occasional remote support to accommodate different time zones.
• Availability to travel - up to 25%.
  
  

#INDCORP

Join Air Products, where we proudly value the skills, dedication, and leadership that Veterans bring to the table. As a Veteran-friendly organization, we actively encourage and welcome Veterans to apply for various roles within our company. We recognize the unique strengths and experiences that Veterans contribute, and we foster a workplace that honors your service while providing a platform for professional growth.

We are the world’s largest hydrogen producer with over 80 years of industrial gas experience. We are hydrogen and industrial gas experts delivering safe, end-to-end solutions, investing in real, clean energy projects at scale, and driving the industry forward to generate a cleaner future. 

At Air Products, we work in an environment where we put safety first, diversity is essential, inclusion is our culture, and each person knows they belong and matter. To learn more, visit About Air Products.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including paid holidays and vacation, affordable medical, dental, life insurance and retirement plans. You will be eligible for benefits and also be 100% vested in your retirement benefits on your first day of employment. 

 

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (U.S.).  You will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, citizenship, gender, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or veteran status. 

Air Products is committed to working with and providing a reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please e-mail us at talent@airproducts.com. General application status inquiries are not answered by this mailbox rather you’ll receive an e-mail directly from our Career Center and/or the Talent Acquisition Specialist.