ABOUT US:

Afton Chemical Corporation is part of the NewMarket Corporation (NYSE: NEU) family of companies, and is one of the largest global suppliers of lubricant additives and offers a broad line of fuel additives worldwide.

JOB SUMMARY:

Responsible for ensuring uninterrupted, cost-effective supply of a portfolio of raw material categories that support Afton business goals and operations, including production, contract manufacturing, resale operations, R&D and corporate departments. The role is typically responsible for more than $75MM in annual spend with a significant number of high volume, business critical materials. The role is 65% strategic and 35% tactical procurement and works under limited direction and guidance. Responsibilities include the development of strategies and coordination at a global level within assigned categories. 

1. ​​​Prepares, maintains and communicates long term sourcing strategies to ensure raw material availability and economics are achieved, are communicated and supports business needs. 
2. ​Defines and implements procurement strategies at a global level for specific raw materials. 
3. ​Understands the markets for raw materials purchased. Identifies factors that influence availability and pricing. Ensures that market changes are anticipated, managed and communicated. 
4. ​Identifies and selects sources of raw materials within existing portfolio and new technologies that may bring advantage to Afton (sponsoring and supporting approvals as appropriate). 
5. ​Negotiates with suppliers for price and supply conditions, ensuring commercial terms are optimized, supply is maintained, contracts are implemented and managed and SAP data is maintained. 
6. ​Monitors quality and consistency of raw materials. Consults with Process Technology, R&D and Manufacturing to investigate and resolve quality issues quickly and effectively with the suppliers. 
7. ​Develops and maintains forecasts (volume and price) for use with suppliers and for communication within Afton including the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) process. 
8. ​Develops and manages supplier relationships. Aligns suppliers with key business objectives, such as business continuity, quality, inventory, new products, cost, payment terms and sustainability. 
9. ​Collaborates with procurement team members on a regional and global basis to identify synergies that will ensure maximization of strategic procurement initiatives. 
10. ​Consults with cross-functional business groups to provide information on competitive challenges, potential entrants, pricing initiatives, quality, service, price and supply chain issues. 
11. ​Demonstrates, leads and encourages best practices within the procurement process; specifications, vendor selection, RFx / negotiation process, business award, contracting, supplier performance, data & analytics, etc.​​ 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE MINIMUMS:  

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, Economics, Math, Chemistry or related field. 
• Demonstrated strategic planning, negotiation, influencing, and business acumen skills acquired through 7 or more years of experience in related roles with increasing levels of responsibility. 
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of procurement, typically acquired through 5 or more years of procurement experience. 
• Applied experience using tools and technologies (such as SAP, PowerBI and MS Office) to efficiently and effectively perform detailed business analytics and communications.  

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE PREFERRED: 

• ​​Advanced degree (Masters or MBA) 
• ​Work experience in the petroleum additive, lubricant or chemical industry 
• ​Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or similar certification (e.g. CIPS)​ 

 For NewMarket, Afton or Ethyl employees, an appropriate combination of experiences that will support the required skill base may replace one or more of the specific experience requirements above. 

Working at Afton

Who We Are - We're a diverse, global family of individuals, who share a passion for developing innovative solutions. We build our professional relationships on respect, integrity and a commitment to safety and quality. Just as these values apply to our professional relationships, they also apply to the way we feel about our neighbors and communities.

Our Work - At Afton, our innovative R&D programs lead to global growth. Our lubricant and fuel additives are among the most highly developed and widely used in the petroleum industry. Afton is a recognized and trusted supplier of driveline lubricant additives, engine oil additives, fuel additives and industrial lubricant additives.

Benefits / Compensation - We offer competitive compensation and benefit packages that reflect our commitment to our employees. Our employees are our most treasured asset and we have dedicated resources that allow us to reward our employees for their commitment on an ongoing basis - ensuring our compensation packages are competitive in the industry

An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to the individual’s race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, status as a military veteran or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.