Job Description:
Category Lead - Distributors & Portfolio Management
Role Overview:
We are looking for a Category Lead to drive the Distributors & Portfolio Management cluster for Advanced Materials Raw Materials across EAME and AMER. This is a newly created global role based in Krakow, Poland, within the Advanced Materials business and Purchasing function. The role focuses on improving how a highly fragmented raw material and supplier portfolio is managed, with emphasis on distributor governance, tail supplier management, portfolio simplification, supply continuity and cross-functional execution. It is a strategic optimization role for someone who can challenge existing ways of working and help build a more scalable sourcing model for this cluster.
Do you think you’re the right fit for this opportunity? Apply today!
Role Responsibilities:
As a Category Lead, you will be responsible for:
- Developing and executing the category strategy for the Distributors & Portfolio Management cluster across EAME and AMER.
- Building a structured approach to distributor management, tail supplier governance and supplier-base optimization.
- Identifying opportunities to consolidate suppliers, rationalize low-volume raw materials and improve sourcing efficiency while protecting business continuity.
- Working closely with Supply Chain, R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Finance and Commercial teams to support portfolio simplification and complexity reduction projects.
- Creating practical governance for new raw material introductions, supplier onboarding, alternative sourcing and portfolio changes.
- Using spend, supplier, part-number, risk, quality and supply performance data to identify priorities and support fact-based decisions.
- Supporting supplier performance management, including supply reliability, quality, lead time, phase-out risk and continuity of supply.
- Preparing clear recommendations, business cases and progress updates for regional and global leadership.
- Building repeatable tools, dashboards and playbooks to improve how the cluster is managed over time.
- Collaborating with regional stakeholders and sites in Europe and the USA.
Experience and Competencies:
We are looking for a self-driven strategic sourcing expert who can simplify complexity, drive supplier portfolio optimization and build effective sourcing solutions in a global environment.
What we are looking for:
- Master’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business or a related field.
- 6–8+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, supplier management or a related commercial role.
- Experience in procurement within a manufacturing environment is preferred; candidates from industries such as automotive, electronics, components or industrial manufacturing are encouraged to apply. Experience in chemicals or raw materials is an advantage.
- Proven ability to manage complex portfolios with many suppliers, distributors, part numbers or fragmented spend.
- Strong experience in strategic sourcing, supplier portfolio optimization and category strategy development.
- Experience leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.
- Good understanding of supplier management, contract management, risk management and total cost considerations.
- Experience with distributor consolidation, tail supplier management, supplier rationalization or portfolio simplification would be an advantage.
- Clear communication skills, including the ability to present complex topics in a simple and structured way.
- Self-driven, proactive and collaborative, with the ability to work across regions, influence stakeholders and navigate complex procurement environments.
- Fluent English is required.
What next?
If you would like to join an innovative, collaborative and multicultural team, please apply now. Your application will be forwarded to a Talent Acquisition Partner, who will strive to get back to you as soon as they can. We understand that applying for a new job is a big decision and we will work hard to keep you updated and support you along the way.
About Us:
At Huntsman, we pride ourselves on being a people-oriented organization.
Our family-like atmosphere is cultivated by our diverse groups of team members around the world.
We welcome the talent, experience and fresh ideas that employees at all stages of their careers, from interns to seasoned professionals, bring to Huntsman.
In return, we offer you the opportunity to become an integral part of a dynamic, industry-leading company, where safety and ethics always come first.
Additional Locations:
Skills Required
- Master's degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business or related field
- 6-8+ years experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, supplier management or related commercial role
- Experience managing complex supplier portfolios with many suppliers, distributors, part numbers or fragmented spend
- Strong experience in strategic sourcing, supplier portfolio optimization and category strategy development
- Experience leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders without direct authority
- Good understanding of supplier management, contract management, risk management and total cost considerations
- Clear communication skills with ability to present complex topics simply and structured
- Self-driven, proactive and collaborative, able to work across regions
- Fluent English
- Experience in procurement within a manufacturing environment (automotive, electronics, components, industrial manufacturing)
- Experience in chemicals or raw materials
- Experience with distributor consolidation, tail supplier management, supplier rationalization or portfolio simplification
Huntsman Corporation Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Huntsman Corporation and has not been reviewed or approved by Huntsman Corporation.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage (medical/dental/vision) and EAP are consistently described as solid, with multiple plan options cited. Strong health benefits are frequently highlighted as a relative strength in the total package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings include a 401(k) with employer contributions and equity through a stock incentive plan, with legacy pension arrangements for some groups. Retirement features are repeatedly referenced as a positive component of total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off, holidays, and floating days are described as good to very good in many roles. Vacation accrual is said to increase with seniority in some locations.
Huntsman Corporation Insights
What We Do
Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals with 2019 revenues of approximately $7 billion. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 70 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 30 countries and employ approximately 9,000 associates within our four distinct business divisions. We view our customers as valued partners. That’s why we believe in a collaborative approach to client relations and work directly with our customers to develop new chemical components that meet their unique needs. Our dedication to our customers is matched only by our dedication to the environment. As part of our commitment to bettering the industry, we strive to operate safe, clean, efficient facilities in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. This means actively seeking opportunities to leverage our resources to assist those in need around the world. It’s all part of our growth-driven approach, which reflects the spirit of free enterprise and is centered on creating mutual benefits for customers, employees, suppliers and the communities where we work.
