Global Category Lead - Chemical

Global Category Lead, Chemical

Imagine yourself Part of a global, high performing team. Growing within a company that has a proven track record of success and talent development. Making a meaningful contribution to a more sustainable future in an industry that you can be proud of. At Hach, a Veralto company, we ensure water quality for people around the world. Every team member plays a vital role in that mission. Our founding vision is to make water analysis betterfaster, simpler, greener, and more informative. Motivated by the highest possible stakes in climate change and global health, we're working to find innovative technologies that guarantee the safety of our water and our environment.

As part of the broader Veralto network, you'll enter a world of possibility : search for your next exciting assignment on our internal job marketplace. Maintain your professional profile to enhance your visibility to internal talent scouts. Here you'll have opportunities to foster your professional development and grow your career.

Global Category Lead, Chemical

Reporting to the Director, EU & NA Direct Sourcing, the Global Category Lead, Chemical will be responsible for shaping and executing Hach's global sourcing strategy for chemical categories. This leadership role oversees the end-to-end management of the category, including strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, forecasting, budgeting, and supplier relationship management across multiple regions. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in procurement and category management, along with a demonstrated record of driving cost savings, fostering supplier innovation, and ensuring both quality and supply chain reliability.

In this role, you will provide strategic direction and mentorship to regional commodity managers, ensuring alignment and consistency across global procurement strategies. You will establish and monitor KPIs that drive performance and business success, while collaborating closely with cross-functional teams including Product Development, Engineering, and Operations to ensure the supply chain is efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with organizational objectives.

If you are a results-oriented leader who thrives in a fast-paced, global environment, this position offers an exceptional opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our business and contribute to Hach's continued growth and excellence. This position is part of the Sourcing team and is located in Ames, Iowa. It will be Hybrid.

In this role, a typical day will look like :

• Team Leadership & Development : Lead and inspire a high-performing team of commodity managers, driving a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Develop talent within the global sourcing function by providing coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities. Foster an environment of accountability and empowerment, ensuring team members are aligned with strategic goals and are continuously improving their skills.
• Budget Forecasting & Material P&L : Oversee budget forecasting and manage the material profit and loss (P&L) responsibilities. Ensure accurate financial planning and reporting, aligning procurement activities with budgetary goals and financial performance metrics.
• KPI Management : Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for commodity managers. Ensure that KPIs align with strategic goals and drive continuous improvement. Provide regular feedback and support to commodity managers to help them achieve their targets and enhance overall performance.
• Category Strategy Development : Develop and execute the global sourcing strategy for the chemicals category, ensuring it aligns with the company's overarching goals and supports sustainable, profitable growth. Conduct comprehensive market intelligence, supplier assessments, and trend analysis to identify new opportunities for cost reduction, innovation, and product enhancement. Stay ahead of market developments and emerging technologies, adapting strategies to drive competitive advantage and differentiate our offerings.
• Supplier Management : Lead the strategic selection, negotiation, and ongoing management of key suppliers in areas such as basic chemicals, commodity chemicals, fine chemicals, specialty chemicals, and other critical items. Cultivate strong, long-term relationships with top-tier global suppliers, focused on creating value through collaboration, innovation, and performance excellence. Regularly assess supplier performance against key metrics (e.g., cost, quality, delivery, sustainability) and lead corrective action plans or continuous improvement initiatives as needed.
• Cost Management & Value Optimization : Drive cost-saving initiatives through strategic negotiation, process improvement, and alternative sourcing strategies, while maintaining or improving product quality and supply reliability. Monitor market conditions, pricing trends, and global economic factors to identify cost optimization opportunities and manage risks across the supply chain. Collaborate with finance and operations teams to deliver clear cost reduction targets, working to improve profitability without compromising on performance or innovation.
• Cross-functional Collaboration : Partner closely with teams across operations, engineering, product management, and strategic sourcing to ensure seamless alignment between procurement and product development timelines. Facilitate transparent communication and alignment on business goals, ensuring that the sourcing strategy supports both short-term and long-term objectives.

The essential requirements of the job include :

Hach is proud to part of the Water Quality segment of Veralto (NYSE : VLTO), a $5B global leader dedicated to ensuring access to clean water, safe food and medicine, and trusted essential goods. When you join Veralto's vibrant global network of 16,000 associates, you join a unique culture and work environment where purpose meets possibility : where the work you do has an everyday impact on the resources and essentials we all rely on, and where you'll have valuable opportunities to deepen your skillset, pursue your ambitions, and grow your career. Together, we're Safeguarding the World's Most Vital Resourcesand building rewarding careers along the way.

US ONLY : The below range reflects the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. An associate's position within the salary range will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, any collective bargaining agreements, and business or organizational needs. The compensation range for this role is $115,000 - $140,000 USD per year. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical / dental / vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.

Veralto Corporation and all Veralto Companies are committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics protected by law. We value diversity and the existence of similarities and differences, both visible and not, found in our workforce, workplace and throughout the markets we serve. Our associates, customers and shareholders contribute unique and different perspectives as a result of these diverse attributes.