Procurement Field Sourcing Specialist

World leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with approximately 66,000 employees and serves more than 3,6 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen have been at the core of the company’s activities since its creation in 1902. Air Liquide’s ambition is to be the leader in its industry, delivering long-term performance and acting responsibly.

Candidate must have valid employment authorization in the U.S. and must not require visa sponsorship now or in the future. This position is not open for non-immigrant visa sponsorship.

Job Summary:

Provide dedicated professional sourcing and other value creation services to assigned business units or operating zone to support and achieve safety, efficiency, compliance and savings initiatives and objectives. Specific activities include competitive bidding, proposal analysis, negotiation of price and commercial terms, vendor management and asset sales.

Essential Job Functions:

• Lead bidding and sourcing activities for all purchases by assigned zone or business unit (BU):
• Manage all contact between Air Liquide and bidders.
• Assist in developing technical specifications and/or scopes of work with internal customers.
• Investigate, qualify and recommend bidders.
• Develop and issue formal requests for quotes (RFQ's).
• Lead job walks and bid clarification meetings with internal customers.
• Issue clarifications or amendments to the specification or work scope to all bidders.
• Complete commercial bid tabulations.
• Complete technical bid tabulations including analysis with internal customers.
• Negotiate final price and commercial terms.
• Make sourcing recommendations to internal customers.
• Author and execute materials and services contracts as required.
• Manage commercial risk for all purchases by assigned zone or business unit:
• Identify and address business risks during the bidding and sourcing process.
• Verify that all contractors are appropriately pre-screened for safety, and initiate the contractor pre-screening process for new contractors as required.
• Verify that hold harmless and indemnification documentation is in place as well as a current certificate of insurance is on file with all contractors. Initiate and negotiate hold harmless and indemnification documentation for new contractors as required.
• Verify that critical suppliers are on the approved supplier list, and initiate the critical supplier qualification process for new suppliers as required.
• Proactively manage sourcing activity for all major capital, maintenance and plant turnarounds (TAR):
• Attend and actively participate in budget planning meetings for assigned BU or zone.
• Actively participate in TAR planning meetings.
• Lead TAR procurement planning process and pre-TAR supplier site visits.
• Maintain TAR activity tracking sheet for each major TAR.
• Maintain current listing of active and upcoming tactical (capital and expense) sourcing initiatives.
• Develop business plan strategies / opportunities for BU or zone spend in unmanaged categories.
• Provide timely and accurate reporting and documentation on sourcing activities:
• Document and report all cost savings associated with sourcing activities.
• Provide supporting documentation on sourcing activities as backup to purchase orders.
• Maintain current listing of contractors utilized in assigned BU or zone.
• Support Corporate Supply Chain initiatives and programs:
• Champion use of managed suppliers (frame agreements).
• Report events of non-compliance (leakage) of frame agreements to appropriate category manager.
• Identify opportunities for creation of frame agreements.
• Participate in relevant supplier relationship management meetings.
• Provide other related value creation services to internal customer:
• Manage and resolve quality or performance issues with non-managed suppliers.
• Provide on-site sourcing support during major plant turn arounds (TARS).
• Facilitate the sale of surplus assets.
• Provide support and best purchasing practices to field buyers within assigned BU or zone.
• From time to time, handle emergency calls after hours and weekends and take timely required action to address internal customers needs.

Education:

Required:

• College degree with 2 years purchasing experience supporting operations or manufacturing, or 2 years operations with strong commercial skill sets.

Experience:

Required:

• Some sourcing experience in a Supply Chain Management organization.

Preferred:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in Supply Chain Management organizations.

Work Conditions:

• Office environment primarily, plant environment occasionally.