Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) is a leading global specialty chemicals and performance materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Our businesses deliver a broad range of products and solutions to customers in every corner of the globe, serving the transportation, infrastructure, environment and consumer industry sectors. We bring the power of innovative chemistry to solve customers' challenges today while preparing them to meet tomorrow’s needs. Our commitment to innovation is driven by a passion to advance our customers' businesses through our deep understanding of their applications and the global trends that impact their operations. If you do not meet every requirement, or your experience is slightly different that what we have listed, we still encourage you to apply! Job Requirements (Principal Responsibilities) Regional Procurement Leadership Provide leadership for procurement activities across the assigned region. Lead and develop regional sourcing and procurement professionals. Align regional procurement priorities with business objectives and global strategies. Establish and maintain strong relationships with plant leadership and functional stakeholders. Lead regional procurement planning and prioritization activities. Act as escalation point for procurement issues across the region. Drive consistency in procurement processes and policies across regional sites. Drive adoption of category management, supplier relationship management, procurement technologies, and procurement best practices throughout the region. Category Strategy & Planning Develop and implement multi-year category strategies aligned with corporate goals. Define sourcing levers (e.g., consolidation, standardization, innovation) and create actionable plans. Create and execute strategic sourcing and category management plans that deliver upon procurement cost improvement and savings targets. Owns demand intake and planning governance for assigned categories, including request qualification, prioritization, and alignment to category strategy. Provide market intelligence for assigned categories and translate market trends, risks, and opportunities into actionable sourcing and category plans. Sourcing & Negotiation Lead end-to-end sourcing processes for high-value and complex categories. Negotiate contracts that deliver cost savings, service improvements, and risk mitigation. Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and internal policies. Contract Lifecycle & Buying Channel Ownership Accountable for contract lifecycle management within the category and region, including renewal strategy, amendments, and commercial compliance Owns buying channel strategy & governance for the category and region Supplier Relationship Management Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with key suppliers. Drive supplier performance management, including scorecards and continuous improvement initiatives. Manage the end-to-end Supplier lifecycle management, including Qualification, Quality, sustainability, and lead Supplier reduction and consolidation programs Collaborate with suppliers on innovation, sustainability, and risk reduction. Stakeholder Engagement Act as a trusted advisor to business units, influencing specifications and demand. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to ensure alignment on category strategies. Communicate progress and results to senior leadership. Performance Delivery & Measurement Accountable for savings delivery, validation, and realization tracking in alignment with Finance governance. Track and report KPIs such as cost savings, compliance, supplier performance, and risk indicators. Use data analytics to drive insights and continuous improvement. Risk & Compliance Identify and mitigate category-specific risks (supply chain disruptions, geopolitical, ESG). Ensure adherence to ethical sourcing standard and sustainability objectives. People Leadership and Development Lead and develop category teams or regional procurement staff Foster talent development and succession planning Identify skill gaps and create training plans (e.g., negotiation, analytics, digital tools). Mentor team members for career progression Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Behaviors) Strategic thinking and commercial acumen. Excellent communication and stakeholder management. Leadership and ability to manage complex projects. Strong influencing and negotiation skills. Knowledge of ESG and sustainability practices . Experience in digital procurement tools and data analytics. Ability to work in a global, matrix organization . Deep understanding of assigned category including commercial and technical knowledge, market dynamics, news & trends, major players, threats, & opportunities. Expertise in strategic sourcing and category strategy development. Strong understanding of supplier lifecycle management (qualification, quality, sustainability). Ability to lead supplier selection, contracting, and performance management. Knowledge of compliance standards and regulatory requirements. Advanced stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration skills. Proven track record in strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations . Strong analytical and market research skills. Proficiency in ERP systems and e-sourcing tools. Leadership and team development Stakeholder management and influencing Education/Experience Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or related field (Master’s preferred). 5-8 years of experience in procurement or category management, ideally in chemical industry Fluency in English and Spanish is required; Portuguese is highly desirable. At Cabot, we bring the power of innovative chemistry and a spirit of partnership with our customers to advance solutions that will enable a sustainable future. Our strength in research and development is a major reason why we have been an industry leader for more than 135 years in products such as reinforcing and specialty carbons, battery materials, aerogel, fumed metal oxides, inkjet colorants, masterbatches and conductive compounds. Our employees around the world are united by our shared purpose: Creating materials that improve daily life and enable a more sustainable future. Through our corporate strategy, “Creating for Tomorrow,” we are focused on our core strengths to lead in performance and sustainability – today and into the future.