Jr. Procurement Assistant

Title: Sr. Purchasing Assistant

Location: Houston, Texas

Why Kuraray:

Kuraray is building a better tomorrow, today. Our team members are dedicated to expanding our business with committed professionals who share essential values such as integrity, excellence, teamwork, dedication to safety, and accountability.

As a part of Kuraray America, Inc., our team shares the advantages of working for the leader in specialty chemicals, resins, and fibers. Our international presence and resources allow us to be a world-leading innovator in the industries we service. Yet, despite our size, our people are more than just a number. As a new team member, you can expect to earn responsibility quickly. Our commitment to our people is visible in our comprehensive benefits package. As a Kuraray team member, you will have the opportunity to enjoy competitive salaries and benefits, incentive opportunities, and an excellent work environment.

Who we are:

Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) is a global leader in specialty chemical, fiber and resin production. With top-of-the-line research and production facilities located in Houston, Texas, and a vast network of supply from around the world, Kuraray leads the industry in specialty dental, fiber, resin, and elastomer products. Kuraray America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray Company, Ltd. Based in Tokyo, Japan. Kuraray has operations in 31 countries and employs more than 11,000 employees, including over 800 in the United States.

Position Summary:

The Procurement Assistant is responsible for defining results driven strategic sourcing strategies aligning with key performance objective. Pursues and qualifies new suppliers who meet Kuraray requirements and develops and maintains market intelligence to enable strategies required by Kuraray internal and external customers. This position also represents Kuraray in negotiations and works with diverse business teams to develop and implement strategies.

Responsibilities:

• Provide transactional support in the requisition to pay process, ensuring timely and accurate order fulfillment and payment.
• Interpret contract pricing provisions, collect pricing data, and develop spreadsheets for forecasting and auditing vendor prices. Establish and maintain systems for contract renewal and expiration dates, working with Procurement Specialists to evaluate whether agreements will be extended, canceled, or renegotiated.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for day-to-day supplier and internal client needs. Interface with both internal clients and external suppliers to resolve quality, service, supply, and invoicing issues, using discretion and judgment to resolve issues promptly without leadership direction.
• Respond to critical delivery issues and apply judgment to resolve issues in a timely manner. Ensure uninterrupted supply of materials and services, including chemicals, packaging materials, MRO supplies, and services, at the most competitive prices in the market
• Responsible for sourcing and executing procurement activities for assigned commodities. Collect and analyze key cost drivers, market dynamics, supplier performance, and alternative suppliers to support solid market information for decision-making.
• Collate, analyze, and summarize procurement data using established tools and formats. Prepare complex documents and reports, gathering relevant data to support procurement decisions and activities.
• Resolve accounts payable discrepancies in a timely manner to ensure accurate and prompt payments.
• Monitor supplier performance and ensure data integrity within procurement systems such as SAP. Participate in audits and controls for supplier performance and procurement processes.
• Identify trends and provide feedback on contract performance, contributing input to new contract processes for future negotiations and renegotiations. Proactively resolve issues and implement improvements in procurement operations and processes.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required with minimum of 2 years of purchasing experience
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Sourcing or equivalent with 0-2 years of purchasing experience.
• Experience in the chemical and/or manufacturing industry is preferred.
• Strong customer service orientation, with the ability to focus on client needs and exceptional interpersonal skills to handle various tasks and demands effectively.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication, presentation, interpersonal, creative thinking, consulting, and analytical skills.
• Ability to prioritize work to manage multiple projects to meet deadlines.
• Excellent problem-solving/decision-making skills.
• Ability to multi-task
• Candidates must have a valid driver's license.

We offer a competitive compensation package that includes base pay and an annual incentive. This program is designed to reward individual performance and align overall rewards with corporate and team performance.

Our employees enjoy an attractive healthcare benefits package, including wellness reimbursements to promote a healthy lifestyle. We also provide an Educational Reimbursement Plan, helping our employees fulfill their career goals, as well as a competitive 401(k) through Fidelity Investments.

This position will be a Hybrid Remote position.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.

Please apply online at: http://www.kuraray.us.com/careers/

Kuraray America, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer AA M/F/disability/protected veteran status

No third party candidates accepted.