Job Description

Category Manager - Procurement - Chemical - Decatur, IL
This is an exempt level position.

The Category Manager, Chemicals provides strategic leadership for the development and execution of procurement strategies across ADM’s Chemicals categories. This role partners with operations, business units, and cross-functional leaders to align sourcing strategies with business priorities, support operational continuity, and deliver measurable value through cost optimization, supplier performance, risk management, and improved contract compliance.

The Category Manager is responsible for leading regional and global sourcing initiatives, preparing and managing RFx processes, negotiating supplier agreements, and developing category strategies that support both short-term business needs and long-term organizational goals. This role requires close collaboration with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to identify opportunities, resolve implementation challenges, and ensure procurement strategies are effectively adopted across the business.

The successful candidate will bring strong knowledge of the chemical industry and related supply markets, a data-driven approach to decision-making, and a proven ability to influence stakeholders, manage supplier relationships, and deliver sustainable value across a complex procurement portfolio. This role requires strong leadership, ownership, and hands-on experience negotiating and managing supplier agreements, with a solid understanding of commercial terms, governance, compliance requirements, and supplier performance management.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of Chemicals procurement strategies across assigned chemical commodities and specialty chemicals, ensuring supply continuity, risk management, market leverage, and delivery of measurable value.
• Provide strategic direction and guidance to Category Leaders and procurement stakeholders to ensure category strategies align with business priorities, operational requirements, and enterprise procurement objectives.
• Manage key supplier relationships and serve as lead negotiator on price, terms, quality, service, compliance, risk, and other business requirements.
• Monitor market trends, supplier risks, and supply chain vulnerabilities; develop contingency plans and advance strategic opportunities to mitigate disruption and support business continuity.
• Partner with operations, business units, and cross-functional leaders to understand business requirements, align on sourcing strategies, and support effective execution across the organization.
• Lead RFx processes, including preparation, issuance, supplier response analysis, TCO evaluation, and data-driven sourcing recommendations.
• Develop, implement, and govern contractual frameworks in partnership with Legal, Risk, Compliance, Quality, and business stakeholders.
• Establish category metrics, TCO savings targets, supplier performance expectations, and compliance objectives; monitor results and communicate progress, risks, and value delivered to stakeholders and leadership.
• Ensure supplier expectations, performance metrics, escalation needs, and corrective actions are effectively managed to support cost, service, quality, compliance

Required Competencies:
Business, Technical & Procurement Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen, including familiarity with contract principles, supplier agreements, and key commercial terms.
• Proven negotiation and influencing skills across suppliers, stakeholders, and cross-functional partners.
• Competency in financial analysis, total cost of ownership evaluation, cost/benefit analysis, and data-driven decision-making.
• Ability to develop and execute category strategies that support business objectives, risk mitigation, supplier performance, and measurable value delivery.
• Stakeholder-focused mindset with the ability to translate business needs into practical sourcing and supplier solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and sourcing initiatives efficiently and thoroughly.
• Global business awareness, including cultural, currency, geographic, trade, political, and regulatory considerations.
• Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to improve processes, systems, and adoption of procurement best practices.
• Proficiency with eProcurement, P2P, source-to-pay systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of Chemicals VMI practices, demand management, and forecasting processes to improve assurance of supply, inventory visibility, and stakeholder alignment.

City

Decatur

State

IL - Illinois

Location Country

United States

About ADM

At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.

Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.

If hired, employees will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

The pay range for this position is expected to be between:

$120,000.00 - $185,300.00

Salaried Incentive Plan

The total compensation package for this position will also include annual bonus