Chemical Buyer – Aerosol Manufacturing
Summary: The Chemical Buyer is a proactive, cost-conscious person who thrives in a manufacturing environment and takes the initiative to drive results. This role supports a contract aerosol filling operation, managing the procurement of all chemicals (including bulk and propellants) while ensuring supplier performance, cost alignment, and inventory accuracy across multiple client programs.
The ideal candidate is someone who takes ownership, enjoys serving and supporting their operations and warehouse teams, and looks for ways to make processes more efficient and predictable. They should take pride in enabling smooth production and material flow, solving problems before they happen, and operating with strong attention to detail. This person is also comfortable working in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment with multiple stakeholders. A solid understanding of cost structures, supplier communication, and cross functional coordination is essential for success in this role.
Primary Responsibilities:
Procurement
o Responsible for purchasing all chemicals, including solvents, actives, fragrances, surfactants, additives, preservative, bulk materials as well as propellants – like LPG, HFCs, DME, and CO2.
o Anticipates material shortages or excesses by actively monitoring forecasts, MOQs and supplier performance – takes early action to minimize disruption or waste.
o Obtains competitive quotes and ensures PO pricing aligns with clients cost cards or directed pricing – verifying that procurement costs do not exceed customer charge rates.
o Maintains compliance with regulatory and documentation standards (ie: SDSs, COAs, DOT)
o Places and tracks miscellaneous purchase orders requested by internal departments ( IE: lab chemicals, QA chemicals, maintenance items) ensuring supplier compliance, timely fulfillment and proper documentation in the system.
Production & Schedule Support
o Reviews the production schedule board and open workorders daily to identify potential delivery delays based on material availability.
o Proactively communicates material risk to planning, and Account Managers to avoid production disruption.
o Treats internal and external clients with a service-oriented approach.
o Looks for ways to steam line material flow, reduce lead times, improve supplier reliability, and simplify processes for production and receiving teams.
Suppliers & Vendor Management
o Works with the Director of Supply Chain and Product Development to identify high-risk chemicals and identify alternative approved options when needed.
o Monitors and shares monthly supplier scorecards; tracks and follows up on supplier quality, delivery and service issues.
o Reviews monthly inbound spend vs. goal and adjusts procurement strategy as needed to stay within cost and monthly inventory turns targets.
Inventory Management
o Acts as primary lead for the annual physical inventory of chemicals and partners with the blending department on monthly cycle counts of critical or high-value materials.
o Manages no-demand chemicals, alerts clients, secures disposition instructions, and ensures proper invoicing and material handling.
o Collaborates with blending and warehouse teams to identify inbound material concerns and storage space constraints escalating issues appropriately
o Coordinates the setup of client product trials, ensuring clear identification of client-supplied versus internally sourced materials, proper tracking, removal of trial inventory from the system, and accurate billing and reconciliation.
Master Data & Client Compliance
o Responsible for maintaining accurate master data for all chemicals, including MOQs, lead times, package sizes, CAS numbers, approved manufacturers, and storage conditions.
o Updates all master data promptly for new materials and any client or supplier-driven changes.
o Ensures all purchases comply with client-approved supplier lists, specifications, and contract requirements.
- Client Specification and Cost Alignment
o Reads and adheres to client specification sheets to ensure that purchased materials fully meet all technical, packaging and labeling requirements. Ensure all purchases materials come with COA.
o Ensure that procurement decisions align with client pricing structures, avoiding mismatches between the cost of goods and what is invoiced to protect both margin and contractual obligations.
Client Collaboration
o Works with sourcing analyst to support accurate material planning through timely PO placement and ensuring suppliers are aware of client forecasts.
o Coordinates with costing and supply chain to ensure transparent communication on material status and cost alignment.
o Thrives in a dynamic, multi-client environment with shifting priorities and production timelines – able to adjust quickly without losing focus or accuracy.
Key Skills & Qualifications:
- 5 – 7 years’ experience in chemical procurement, preferable in aerosol manufacturing, or contract packaging.
- Strong understanding of hazardous material logistics, bulk chemical sourcing, and aerosols
Packaging components.
- Experience with digital organizational tools to track action items, deadlines and priorities.
- Experience working with client-directed pricing, costs cards and supplier compliance in a 3 rd party manufacturing environment preferred.
- Self-motivated, highly organized, and able to take initiative in a fast-paced, performance driving setting.
- Proficient in ERP/MRP systems (SAP B1 preferred) and Microsoft Excel.
Work Environment:
- Primarily office-based; occasional visits to the production floor, overall, a fast-paced environment that requires frequent multitasking and strong time management skills. Ideal for someone who thrives in a structured yet dynamic setting, enjoys problem solving, and can effectively manage high volumes of information.
Hours:
- M-F: between 7:00 am – 4:30 pm
Education/Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, chemistry or a related field preferred; equivalent experience in a manufacturing or customer- facing role may be considered in place of a degree.
- 5 – 7 years of experience in chemical procurement, preferably in aerosol manufacturing or contract packaging.
Other: Equal Opportunity Employer
- This job description is a summary and does not detail a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
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