Procurement Assistant

Title: Procurement Assistant

Location: Houston, Texas

Who we are:

Voted one of the Nation's Best and Brightest Companies to Work for, Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) is a global leader in specialty chemical, fiber, and resin production. With top-of-the-line research and production facilities and a vast network of supplies 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 32 countries and employs more than 11,000 employees, including over 800 in the United States.

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, 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.

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 in SAP
• Enter and issue purchase orders through in SAP
• Interpret contract pricing provisions, collect pricing data, and develop a spreadsheet for forecasting and auditing vendor prices.
• Establish and maintain a monitoring system for contract renewal and expiration dates. Work with Procurement Specialists to determine whether an agreement will be extended, canceled, or renegotiated.
• Resolve quality, service, supply, and invoicing issues with suppliers. Interface with both internal clients and external suppliers to resolve issues without leadership direction.
• Respond to critical delivery issues and use discretionary judgment to resolve issues in a prompt manner.
• Serve as key contact to handle day-to-day needs of the Sites, suppliers, and other functional groups. Use discretionary judgment to resolve issues that may arise.
• Responsible for sourcing and executing the procurement activity for assigned commodities.
• Responsible for quality on-time delivery and total cost for assigned commodities with intention of maximizing total value.
• Ensures un-interrupted supplies of MRO supplies and Services at the lowest possible cost on the market.
• Product sourcing of Chemicals, Packaging Materials, MRO supplies, and Services by interviewing suppliers to obtain price and specification information.
• Troubleshoot and resolve quality problems with suppliers.
• Resolve accounts payable discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Ensures data integrity in SAP as well as streamlining transactional elimination opportunities.
• Monitor supplier performance and participate in audit controls for the business unit.

Minimum Qualifications:

• • High School Diploma or equivalent required with a minimum of 2-3 years of experience in procurement, or education in a related field.
  • Strong computer skills to include: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook, SAP and other ERS systems
  • Strong customer service skills, be client focused and possess very strong interpersonal skills to deal effectively with the varying tasks and demands in this role.
  • Strong organizational skills are a necessity to manage the heavy workload in this position.
  • Must be able to work independently

  • 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, and attention to detail.
  • Ability to multi-task
  Candidates must have a valid drivers license.
  

Competencies:

• Customer Focus
  • Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Business Insight
  • Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals.
• Cultivates Innovation
  • Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.

• Action Oriented
  • Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Ensures Accountability
  • Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Drives Results
  • Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstance
• Collaborates
  • Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Difference
  • Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization
• Communicates Effectively
  • Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Courage
  • Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
• Instills Trust
  • Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Situational Adaptability
  • Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

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 benefit from a robust healthcare package that includes wellness reimbursements, along with generous perks such as three weeks of paid time off, ten company holidays, paid parental leave, education reimbursement, and a matching 401k plan, among other offerings.

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

Learn more at kuraray.us.com/careers/

Kuraray America, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity/disability/protected veteran status

No third-party candidates accepted.