Job Summary
We are seeking a highly specialized Raw Material Category Lead with deep technical and commercial expertise in the procurement of polymer resins and pelletized compounds. The ideal candidate will own the global end-to-end category strategy for Polyolefins, with a primary focus on high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and medium density polyethylene (MDPE) tailored specifically for advanced plastic extrusion applications. This role requires an industry expert who can navigate volatile petrochemical commodity indexes, establish strategic raw material security frameworks, and work cross-functionally with R&D, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing plants to drive cost efficiency, material optimization, and supply resilience.
Job Description
- Category Strategy & TCO: Develop and execute multi-year, sustainable global category strategies for plastic resins and raw materials to achieve optimal Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
- Index-Based Sourcing & Negotiation: Design complex pricing models linked to global petrochemical benchmarks (e.g., ICIS, Platts, S&P) and lead high-value contract negotiations with global resin producers and distributors.
- Supplier Relationship Management (SRM): Build and maintain a robust global supplier matrix of primary resin producers and compounders; lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and establish strict vendor performance scorecards.
- Technical Cross-Functional Alignment: Partner directly with R&D and Packaging/Product Engineering to evaluate raw material specifications (e.g., Melt Flow Index, density, tensile strength) ensuring raw pellet compatibility with specific extrusion machinery lines.
- Risk Mitigation & Hedging: Formulate risk-mitigation frameworks to safeguard the organization against extreme market volatility, supply shortages, or force majeure events by securing volume commitments and exploring structural hedging opportunities.
- Master Data Governance: Drive material taxonomy and quality specification alignment within corporate ERP systems (SAP/Oracle), facilitating a streamlined material master setup for raw granules and masterbatches.
- Sustainability & Circular Economy: Identify and qualify alternative, eco-friendly, or reprocessed PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) PE resin solutions to support corporate environmental and circular material loop objectives.
- Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a specialized team of buyers and planners, fostering an agile problem-solving mindset and a culture of continuous market analytics.
Profile Description
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or Supply Chain Management (Master's degree / MBA in Operations preferred).
- Experience: 10–12 years of global corporate procurement experience, specifically leading raw material resin/plastic commodity portfolios inside a Global MNC or continuous-process manufacturing corporate environment.
- Corporate Persona: Currently functioning within a complex, multinational matrix setup, with a proven track record of converting volatile commodity data into clear, actionable executive strategy presentations.
- Polymer Commodity Mastery: Exceptional domain expertise in the global petrochemical supply chain, chemical feedstock tracking, and the structural market drivers behind HDPE, LDPE, and MDPE pellets.
- Extrusion Process Knowledge: Strong functional understanding of plastic extrusion profiles, sheet/film extrusion parameters, and how pellet variances (contamination, moisture, masterbatch consistency) impact plant-level manufacturing yields.
- Strategic Sourcing Fluency: Proven success in structuring index-linked pricing mechanisms, volume rebates, and international import/export customs protocols for bulk chemical/resin shipments.
- Digital Sourcing Systems: Proficient with corporate ERP platforms, advanced procurement analytics tools, and market intelligence portals to continuously monitor supplier delivery metrics and lane compliance.
- Stakeholder & Change Management: Highly refined presentation and negotiation skills across global corporate setups, with an innate ability to confidently present category insights to executive business units and operational leadership.
About Company
A client of ilink Talent Solutions is a Singapore headquartered technology and business services company with over 3,200 employees across Asia, the US, UK, Middle East, and Australia, supported by major innovation hubs in Chennai and Bengaluru. They deliver cloud, AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, automation, and digital transformation solutions. Recognised with awards including the SAP Outstanding Innovation Partner (SEA 2024) and Great Place to Work, they are rapidly expanding their global client base beyond their founding parent group.
